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RAMS
vs HAWKS: NEWSLETTER
by Piet Van Hasselt
27 June 2002
 1. RAMS IN TOP SPOT
by Piet Van Hasselt
This Sunday’s match-up may appear to be a mismatch
with the Scenic Circle Hotels Canterbury Rams atop
the National Basketball League table and the Mighty
Hawks bringing up the rear. The Hawks, however,
are regarded as the “sleeping giants” of the
NBL and have three Tall Blacks in their squad. The Rams
defeated the Hawks in round four, 117-96, with six
players reaching double-figures in points.
While the Rams had a bye last weekend, they were able to
capture the top spot with the Otago Nuggets upsetting the
Nelson Giants in Nelson. One week earlier, the Rams
played one of their best games of the season demolishing
the Saints in Wellington, 114-89. Point guard Carlo
Varricchio was in fine form with 16 points and
10 assists and Andrew Gardiner powered
in 20 points in just 13 minutes!
As much as the Rams have impressed this season, the Hawks
have underachieved, recording just three wins from 12
games. This weekend does not get any easier for the
Hawke’s Bay side as they were scheduled to play the
rejuvenated Nuggets on Saturcay in Dunedin before this
match. The inside-outside combo of Tall Blacks Paul
Henare and Rob Hickey and
evergreen Willie Burton make the Hawks a
tough prospect. Former Ram and 2000 NBL Rookie of the
Year Arthur Trousdell adds versatility
to the tall frontline.
2. CURTAIN RAISER: CANTERBURY vs OTAGO (SPECIAL
OLYMPIANS)
This Sunday afternoon two of the New Zealand’s best
Special Olympics Basketball Teams take the court for the
third successive season as the curtain raiser to the
Rams. Canterbury are the current National Champions
winning the Gold Medal ahead of 15 other teams at the
National Games in Auckland in December last year. Otago
also performed credibly winning the Bronze Medal. Each
time Canterbury and Otago play the Robson Trophy is on
the line, with Canterbury the current holders. The trophy
was first presented at last year’s curtain raiser
and has changed hands a number of times over the last 12
months.
3. WILDCATS RUN OUT TO 4-0 START & WILL HOST
FINALS
The Canterbury Wildcats have dominated the early stages
of the Women’s National Basketball League, winning
their first four games by an average margin of 28 points!
Excellent team defence has been the catalyst for success
and Tall Ferns Centre Gina Farmer has been a force
averaging 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. This
weekend the Wildcats travel to Auckland for a
double-header against the Auckland Sonics on Saturday
night, and the Harbour Breeze on Sunday afternoon. The
Wildcats play their home games at Cowles Stadium: Sun 14
July vs Otago Breakers (2pm), Fri 26 July vs Auckland
Sonics (7pm), Sat 27 July vs Wellington Swish (7:30pm).
BREAKING NEWS: Canterbury will host the Women's NBL
finals series on August 9 & 10.
For more information visit the Wildcats section on
Rampages:
https://rams.org.nz/22wildcats.htm
 4. NEW TALL BLACKS
SECTION ON RAMPAGES
Last week I opened up a new section on the Men’s
National Team on the Rams website – Rampages.
Headshots, the full 2002 schedule (including upcoming
Burger King Series against Hungary), Indianapolis World
Champs 1st round opponent analysis, Oceania Qualification
series can been seen in this section.
https://rams.org.nz/22tallblacks.htm
5. BURGER KING TALL BLACKS TICKETS ON SALE
Be sure to get your tickets to the Burger King Tall
Blacks vs Hungary game July 12 before half time at
Sunday's Rams game at the indoor Ticketek Box Office
window. You pay no booking fee when you buy your tickets
here at the WestpacTrust Centre. Don't forget the TV2
KidsFest event with the Rams and Tall Blacks that
morning, open to all children with a ticket to the
evening's games (see page 39 of the TV2 KidsFest brochure
for details!).
6. TALL BLACKS
SUPPORTERS TOUR - INDY WORLD CHAMPS 2002
Calder & Lawson Travel, based in Hamilton, are
conducting the only world championships supporters’
tour officially endorsed by Basketball New Zealand. The
$5399 package includes return economy class flights, 12
nights at the Hampton Inn in downtown Indianapolis and a
tour leader to show you around. This doesn’t include
game tickets. The tour leaves Auckland on August 28 and
departs Indianapolis on September 9, the day after the
championship final. Contact Judy Court (ph 07 856 9009 or
0800 739 009) for further details.
7. NBA DRAFT GOES GLOBAL
Today's American NBA Draft showed that the league is
becoming truly international with six foreign players
being selected in the first round. Chinese 7'5"
giant Yao Ming went to the Houston Rockets with the
number one overall pick as expected. Austrailian big man
Chris Andersen, who is playing in the Italian League,
went #37 overall to the Atlanta Hawks. An interesting
aspect was the absence of high school players, with NBA
teams going for proven talents from the tougher European
leagues.
 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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