Basketball On The Internet.

*FLASHBACKS, my weekly "lucky dip" where I just reach into my drawers of old Australian basketball stuff and transcribe whatever I find for you.

Well normally I randomly pull something out of my filing cabinet or drawers but given that this Thursday, September 26 (to the day!) is the 50th anniversary of the first SA Championship Grand Final won by the South Adelaide Panthers way back in 1963, I am indebted to Bruce Ninnis for jogging my memory and sending me some memorabillia of that fateful night. (Plus I am in Sydney for the Loggins-Bruton Cup and the only thing in my drawers here are a Sydney phone directory!)

 

PREVIEW OF TONIGHT'S GAME

A new era in the history of District basketball will take place tonight when South Adelaide will oppose Budapest for the top team of the year.

Budapest will be striving to annex their third consecutive premiership and South will be contestants for the first time.

Experience in Grand Finals favours Budapest but South richly deserves its place as minor premiers and will be slight favourites for tonight's game.

They have met twice during the season with South winning at 52-40 on the first occasion and Budapest turning the tables at 62-48 at their last encounter. Michael Ahmatt and Scott Davie, with aggregate scores of 41 and 23 have been the most damaging players against Budapest, and with Dean Whitford now playing at his best, and a long list of South talent, Budapest will need all its guile to take the honours.

With players like Les Hody, Andras Eiler, Alf Switajewski, Geza Nagy and Co, they have the game and the strength to match any team in Australia. Best of luck to both teams and may the better team win.

PLAYER PERSONALITY - SOUTH ADELAIDE

SCOTT DAVIE (Capt). Age 23. Height 5ft10. Guard. Represented SA 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963. Playmaker with deadly long shot, has terrific drive to basket, tigerish guard. At his best when the going is tough.

MICHAEL AHMATT. 20, 6-3, Forward. Represented Northern Territory in 1959. A real crowd pleaser, passing ability second-to-none. Improving all the time with his eyes on Tokyo Olympics.

DEAN WHITFORD. 22, 5-10, Forward. Represented South Australia in 1960, also a junior state rep. Overcame an illness at the beginning of the season to be at his peak now. An accurate jump shooter with amazing concentration.

BRIAN WHITFORD. 21, 5-9, Guard. Represented South Australia in junior championships. Like his brother Dean, accurate shot, tenacious guard and gets more than his share of rebounds although lacking in height. Controls the back court with sense and purpose.

BRUCE NINNIS. 25, 6-2, Centre. Fastest centre player in the competition, with great leaping powers, good jump shot. Recently married and improving with age.

BARRY WAKEFIELD. 20, 6-1, Centre. First year with South. Junior state rep. Excellent fighter from backboards, fast mover and at his best in big games.

BOB HANNAM. 17, 5-10, Guard. Captain junior state team, great team player, has right match temperament. Classy mover.

MARK MULLER. 19, 5-11, Forward. Junior state rep. Accurate set shooter with ability to lift his game at the right time.

DON SHIPWAY. 16, 5-11, Guard. Junior state rep. Learned his game through junior ranks. A dedicated player whose second home is the stadium. Excellent shot with good ball control.

WAYNE CROOKS. 16, 5-11, Forward. Junior state rep. Like Don Shipway, learned his game through junior ranks. A tigerish fighter with a heart. A most improved player over the last 12 months.

JOE CLARKE. 15, 6-3, Centre. The youngest player to play in an Australian Championship. Represented Northern Territory in 1962 at the age of 14. Shows a lot of natural ability and a big future is predicted for him. Like Michael Ahmatt, has made his home in South Australia to further develop his basketball technique.

PLAYER PERSONALITY - BUDAPEST

ANDRAS EILER (Capt). Age 30. Height: 6ft. Guard. Represented SA in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962. Unlucky to miss Olympic selection in 1960. Crowd pleasing long shooter with deadly accuracy. Very intelligent player, at least in big games.

LASZLO HODY. 29, 6-4, Forward. Represented Hungary in Olympic Games at Helsinki. State player for many years. Won two trophies for best player in an Australian Championship. Excellent prospects for Tokyo Olympics.

ALFRED SWITAJEWSKI. 19, 6-1, Forward. First year in senior state side. Represented SA in Junior Carnivals in 1959, 1960, 1961. Fast moving forward and accurate set shooter. Generally blinds the opposition with science.

GEZA NAGY. 18, 6-4, Centre. First year in senior state side. represented SA in Junior Carnivals in 1960, 1961, 1962. Excellent pair of hands. Works the boards to perfection. Accurate jumpshooter. A promising future seems assured for this young player.

CSABA NAGY. 20, 6-3, Centre. Older brother to Geza. Strong, volatile player who excels in getting the ball from the backboards. On his night can be a match-winner.

GARY COOMBS. 20, 6-1, Forward. Selected as reserve for SA State team 1963. Left hander with long jump shot. Strong forceful player. Much improved this year.

HENN TENNOSAAR. 22, 6-1. Forward. Former Estonian player. Selected in training squad for State this year but withdrew through study commitments. A great turn of speed with plenty of drive to basket. Handy player who could lift the team.

THOMAS FOOTE. 18, 6-1, Guard. Has represented SA in Junior Carnivals. Cool methodical player that never gets rattled. Good shot and excellent team man. A most under-rated basketballer.

GEORGE UJVARY. 27. 6-0, Forward. Hard-working secretary of club. Always a trier with sound drive to basket. A very keen fanatic to men's basketball.

CLUB OF THE SEASON

No other club has achieved the heights that South Adelaide have this year. For the first time in its history, South will be contesting a Grand Final for the District Winter Pennant. Their previous best was in 1961 when they were beaten in the Preliminary Final by A.S.K. 54-52. In 1954 and 1962, they reached the semi finals, only to be eliminated.

In the years 1955 to 1960 inclusive, they finished nearer to the bottom of the ladder than the top. South have contested the Grand Finals in the District's three highest grades this year at Forestville, and have already won in Metro A and B. In Metro C grade, they reached the Preliminary Final.

Their highest women's team, playing in Division II, participated in the Grand Final but lost to Torrens 26-24.

They have encouraged and developed good juniors and this year took out the Under 18 and Biddy Ball Grand Finals.

Wherein lies the success of this talented club:

1 Their inspiring coach A.Koch, whose devotion to and love of the game has achieved his greatest wish.

2 The encouragement and tuition of junior basketballers through a Saturday morning clinic and recently Friday night juniors.

3 In obtaining Michael Ahmatt from Northern Territory.

4 To their band of loyal administrators.

5 To their ardent supporters and cheer leaders. (first of its kind in District competitions.)

Highlights of the year's activity saw South obtain the highest number of points scored in one game, 129 against Vytis 34.

Michael Ahmatt, winner of the St George's Trophy (best under 21) for the second time.

Ash Koch Under 18 junior state coach since 1961.

Scott Davie and Michael Ahmatt in the State team.

Bob Hannam, captain of the South Australian team, this year won the award for the best player in Australia, who, with Don Shipway, Wayne Crook and Randy Simpson, combined together in the Under 18 Australian Junior Championship in Hobart.

One more achievement was the appointment of Mr C. Shipway as Manager of the junior state team to Tasmania and he became the first manager of a state team from South club.

Although South have been in two Summer Grand Finals without success, tonight might be the night. In any case, with the improvement over the years, they will be a strong force in basketball in South Australia for many years to come.

THE TEAMS - GRAND FINAL

SOUTH ADELAIDE (White & Blue)
4 D Shipway
5 S Davie
6 D Whitford
7 B Wakefield
8 M Ahmatt
9 B Ninnis
10 M Muller
11 B Whitford
13 B Hannam
15 W Crook
16 J Clarke
Coach: Ash Koch

BUDAPEST (Red, white & green)
4 T Foote
5 G Ujvary
7 C Nagy
8 A Switajewski
9 A Eiler
10 G Coombs
12 L Hody
14 H Tennosaar
15 G Nagy
Coach: Erik Erkens

UMPIRES: L Clift, J Thewlis

 

LEADING DISTRICT GOALTHROWERS

1 John Heard (United Church) 306
2 Richard Trott (Norwood) 292
3 Michael Ahmatt (South) 290
4 Scott Davie (South) 268
5 Eddie Ceplitis (A.S.K.) 262
6 Werner Linde (West) 255
7 John Horsell (North) 242
8 Les Hody (Budapest) 232
9 John Gumbys (Vytis) 232
10 Mario Giglio (West) 213
11 George Dancis (A.S.K.) 200

 

HIGHEST AWARD

To win the Noel Woollacott Medal, the highest individual award, is every basketballer's ambition. This year, Norwood's 6-5 centre, Dick Trott, at the age of 23 has achieved this distinction.

Dick has yet to make the state team, although he has captained a junior state side but was unfortunate to receive a leg injury which hampered him throughout the championship. He was not available this year for selection in the state team through studies but will be putting all he has to gain selection for the Australian Championships in Adelaide next year.
Dick is the third player from the Norwood club to win the best and fairest award, Peter Roach in 1953 and Don Atkinson last year the two others to succeed.

FIRST 10 WOOLLACOTT MEDAL: R Trott (Norwood) 30; J Heard (United Church) 27; M Ahmatt (South) 24; S Davie (South) 24; J Gumbys (Vytis) 23; B Specht (Torrens) 21; A Dawe (West) 20; G Dancis (A.S.K.) 19; L Hody (Budapest) 17; J Horsell (North) 17. 

 

**On Thursday, the actual 50th anniversary of South Adelaide's historic first premiership, I will reprint the newspaper articles of their success**