Basketball New Zealand

Basketball New Zealand life member Basil Marsh QSM passed away on Wednesday night in Tauranga Hospital.

Marsh, a Queen’s Service Medal recipient for services to the community, had an involvement of more than 60 years with basketball in New Zealand, including coaching, managing, officiating and administrating.

Elected a life member of the New Zealand Women’s Basketball Association in 1971, Marsh had the distinction carried over when the New Zealand Basketball Federation (now BBNZ) was formed.

Marsh officiated at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and also whistled numerous international fixtures in New Zealand and Australia, and also acted as team manager for women’s senior and junior national teams to Australia through the years.

A long-time coach with Wairarapa and other teams at the A grade national championships, Marsh also coached the North Island women’s squad several times and went on to have involvement with the Rotorua, Tauranga and Hastings associations.

He refereed about 50 games in the early years of the National Basketball League, earning the respect of players with his tough, but fair officiating style.

“Basil was very much a stickler for the rules,” recalls former protégé Ken Coulson, now a FIBA referee educator.

“If you were a young referee and wanted to come up through the ranks, you had to make the travel and three-second calls early.

“He had a fierce reputation, but he definitely went out of his way to help people. He really put his heart and soul into the game.”

Basketball New Zealand would like to pass on its condolences to Basil Marsh’s family and friends.

A funeral service for Marsh will be held at Tauranga Park, 383 Pyes Pa, Tauranga, at 11am, Saturday, December 6.