RECHARGED
RAMS TARGET SAINTS
12 JULY 2001
by Corey Brown and Piet Van HasseltThe WestpacTrust
Canterbury Rams’ opponents for Week 10 of
the NBL are the in-form Wellington Saints. With
only six games remaining in the Rams’
regular season, Saturday’s game is a
must-win if the team is to have a realistic
chance of claiming a spot in the playoffs.
The Rams have had ample time to prepare for this
important encounter, enjoying a bye last weekend.
Most of the players will be fresh, energized, and
looking to erase the memories of the
heart-breaking two-point loss to the Jets the
week before. It will also provide an opportunity
for Canterbury to avenge the 112-102 loss to the
Saints in Week One this season.
special note to Saturday’s game is the 100th
regular season game of Captain Courageous Dave
Langrell. Not only has Langrell been an excellent
contributor on the court with career averages of
just under 10 points and 4 rebounds, but he is
also the Rams’ inspirational leader and a
role model for all players and the public alike.
For Canterbury, strength lies in the capable
hands of seasoned veteran and former Saint Andrew
Gardiner and American Import John “Pope”
Whorton. Whorton is averaging a strong 20.7
points and 11 rebounds a game, while Gardiner is
featuring in not just the points and rebounds
tallies, but also had an outstanding six steals
against the Jets.
Further boosting the Rams reserves is energetic
Timmy “Hustle” Edmonds who is returning
from a foot injury suffered a month ago.
The Saints travel to Christchurch with an
impressive 8-2 record, earning them an impressive
outright second on the NBL points table. They are
coming off perhaps one of their biggest wins in
their recent history beating Blockbuster Auckland
76-72, which was the first time they had done so
in seven seasons.
The Wellington side boasts an array of talented
stars and when firing on all cylinders is an
extremely difficult team to contain offensively.
Entertaining play is abundant in the Saints’
squad headed by Terrence Lewis who has been moved
to the small forward position and is averaging
25.6 points and an amazing 6.1 rebounds per game.
Canadian Import Chris Webber always puts in a
workmanlike performance and is looking forward to
returning to the city where he won the Slam-Dunk
Contest. Guard Troy McLean has been ‘on fire’
recently, averaging 18 points in his last two
games. The team is further backed by two
unrestricted Americans Tony Brown and former Ram
Kenny Perkins. A player who will be familiar to
Rams Fans is one of NZ’s best forwards Peter
Pokai. Also look out for live-wire head-band
wearing Aidan Daly, who is among the league
leaders with 3.8 assists per game.
One of the keys of the match will be how the Rams
contain the league’s best offensive weapon
in Saints’ Terrence Lewis. The recent Kiwi
resident has been his usual reliable self and is
in trying to impress Tall Black selectors.
Langrell and Luke “Skywalker” Ruscoe
are expected to share the defensive match-up
duties and will work him hard when the Rams have
the ball.
The match tip-off is at 7pm on Saturday 14 July,
at the WestpacTrust Centre. The Canterbury
Knights will take on the Southern Institute of
Technology at 3pm followed by a Special Olympics
match between Canterbury and Otago at 5pm.
Tickets are available at all Ticketek
outlets.
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