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RAMS
NEWS: Special Awards Issue
by Piet Van Hasselt
4 August 2002
1. RAMS SEASON-ENDING AWARDS FUNCTION
Today (Sun 4 Aug) the Rams most dedicated supporters,
season ticket holders, sponsors and volunteers gathered
at the Scenic Circle Russley Hotel's Skyline Bar to
celebrate the season and salute the winners of the annual
team awards and the 10 NBL awards won by Cantabrians.
Those present were treated to addresses from Scenic
Circle Hotels Executive Chairman Earl Haggaman, Rams'
Director and Coach John Watson, the voice of NZ and
Canterbury basketball - Bob Manthei, the co-captains -
Dave Langrell and John Whorton, and a special powerpoint
presentation by Piet Van Hasselt (with excellent photos
by Joshua Thorpe). The large number of Rams volunteers
were acknowledged as the Rams organisation would not be
possible without their efforts.
2. RAMS BAG 10 NBL AWARDS
While the Scenic Circle Hotels Canterbury Rams season was
cut short last week by the Waikato Titans in the
semi-finals, a number of outstanding efforts were
recognised in the Burger King National Basketball League
awards. In total the Rams collected what must be a record
10 trophies. John "Pope" Whorton and Terrence
Lewis picked up four awards each demonstrating that the
"Thunder & Lighting" duo are the NBL's
best. Big Man Whorton was named the Burger King Most
Valuable Player, Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners
Cup), won the Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy for Leading
the NBL in Rebounds and was selected to the All-Star
Five. Dead-eye shooting Lewis was named the Most Valuable
NZ Player, Most Outstanding NZ Guard, Most Outstanding
Guard (Keith Carr Trophy) and was also selected to the
All-Star Five.
Superb ball-handler Carlo Varricchio won the Dave Trophy
for leading the NBL in Assists - the first time he has
achieved this feat, after perennially finishing in the
top five throughout his 11 season career. Rookie Head
Coach John Watson was announced as the Coach of the Year
after taking a squad that went from 6th place in 2001 (7
wins, 9 losses) to 1st equal in the regular season (11
wins, 5 losses). This award also recognises the
contributions of assistant coaches Darren Gravley, Peter
McAllister and Dene Robinson.
3. RAMS 2002 AWARDS
Last season four annual team awards were introduced,
which have been continued this year. Coach John Watson
selected the winners which must have been a difficult
task given the number of tremendous efforts this year.
The "energizer bunny" Tim Edmonds won the Most
Improved Player award after increasing all statistics
markedly in 2002 and his hustling defence and knifing
offensive skills propelled him into the starting line-up
for 12 of the 16 regular season games. One of the NBL's
premier power forwards and toughest players, Andrew
Gardiner, won the Sixth Man award. Gardiner averaged an
eye-opening 10.6 points and 3.9 rebounds from only 18
minutes per game coming off the bench, and scored in
double-figures in 10 games this year.
Terrence Lewis was judged the Best Defensive Player on
the squad after leading the team in steals at a 1.85
average (with three games of five steals). Perhaps his
finest defensive effort this season was against the
Saint's Kevin Brooks where he restricted the output of
the highly-rated American. John "Pope" Whorton
repeated his tremendous performance of last season again
winning the Most Valuable Player award. Whorton was
simply unstoppable in the paint, and benefited from some
outstanding passes from team-mates.
The retirement of NBL veteran Craig Farrant was also
noted at the function. An interesting observation:
Farrant's career regular season statistics show that he
logged up 4648 minutes of action - the equivalent of
playing continuously for three days and five hours!
Career Regular Season Stats: 215 games, 4648 minutes,
1955 points, 930 rebounds, 181 blocks, 168 steals, 157
assists and 54 three pointers.
4. POPE & T-LEW DOMINATE STATS
Whorton and Lewis not only dominated the top of the Rams
statistical categories, but they were also right near the
top of the NBL. Whorton led the Rams in field goal
percentage (60.8% - 4th in NBL), points per game (24.19 -
2nd in NBL), rebounds (13.44 - 1st in NBL) and blocks
(1.94 - 2nd in NBL). Lewis was the number one Ram in
three-point percentage (45.2% - 3rd in NBL), free throw
percentage (86.4% - 2nd in NBL) and steals (1.85 - 9th in
NBL). Varricchio was the only other Ram to lead any
category with a 5.3 average in assists. The overall
contributions of Dave Langrell must also be noted here,
who demonstrated an enormous amount of hustle, playing
above his 1.95m height in the power forward position, and
helped him set career bests in rebounds (7.31) and
assists (4.31) per game.
5. WILDCATS TO PLAY AUCKLAND THIS FRIDAY
The Canterbury Wildcats have qualified #2 after
the 12-game regular season for the Finals this weekend at
Cowles Stadium. They will take on the strong Auckland
Sonics on Friday 9 August at 5:30pm. The game will
match-up the Tall Fern Farmer sisters again - Gina
(Wildcats) and Sally (Sonics). The second semi-final will
be between the #1 Waikato Lady Titans and the #4
Wellington Swish on Friday at 7:30pm. The final will be
played on Saturday at 6:00pm, with the playoff for 3rd
and 4th places at 2:00pm. Good luck to the team.
Saturday 10 August
2:00pm - WNBL 3rd & 4th Playoff
4:00pm - Premier Men’s Club Final - Minties vs
Checkers (featuring a host of Rams players)
6:00pm - WNBL Final
6. TALL BLACKS LEAVE FOR EUROPE/WORLD CHAMPS
This Tuesday the Tall Blacks leave for a tour of Europe
in their final preparation for the FIBA World
Championships to be held in Indianapolis, USA (Aug 29-Sep
8). For a full itinerary and the Tall Black squad of 13
visit:
https://rams.org.nz/22tallblacks.htm
7. TITANS BEAT GIANTS IN FIERY FINALE
On Saturday the Waikato Titans successfully defended
their Burger King NBL Championship Title beating the
Nelson Giants, 85-83. The final was full of emotion with
some excellent displays of long-range shooting from both
teams - most notably Nelson's Phill Jones who opened his
account
with four straight three-pointers and Waikato's Brendon
Pongia who scored five straight three's of his own in a
decisive third quarter run. The match was marred with
controversial coach Jeff Green "communicating his
pleasure" to the Nelson crowd after the final
buzzer. Canterbury's own Bob Manthei was again
commentating the match who has been a busy man recently
covering weekly NBL games and the Tall Black vs Hungary
series.
8. OFF-SEASON NEWS
Rams News will continue to be distributed throughout the
off-season with updates on the Rams who are playing
overseas, player signings, and all of the NZ Basketball
news. Thanks to all those supporters who have offered
kind words about the newsletters.
 SCENIC CIRCLE HOTELS
RAMS SUPPORTERS: WEEKEND SPECIAL
Stay at any Scenic Circle Hotel New Zealand Wide and pay
only $99 incl. GST per room (2 person per room), extra
person rate applies. Please make your bookings through
0800 NZ Owned (0800 69 69 63) and quote 'RAMS'. Special
conditions apply. Subject to availability. Special valid
from 1/4/02 - 1/9/02.
Please
feel free to forward this information to your basketball
friends. Newcomers can subscribe to Rams News by sending
an e-mail to [email protected] with "sign me
up" in the subject line. Comments about the
newsletter can be sent to [email protected]
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