Basketball: Rams coach falls on sword

The 81-63 thrashing handed out by the Auckland Stars at the weekend has prompted Canterbury Rams coach John Watson to sack himself.

Team management had considered whether the players were the problem after one of the worst performances by a Canterbury team but he decided the players were up to it but needed a new voice to listen to, Watson said.

His assistant for the past three years, Peter McAllister, takes over.

The Rams' next game is tomorrow night at home to North Harbour.

* Tall Ferns vice-captain Gina Farmer was a stand-out for her Hungarian team MAV-Coop Svolnak in the European Cup final and was touted as a possible MVP until they lost 64-68 to Russian team Baltiyskaya Zweda yesterday.

Farmer scored 15 points, took eight rebounds and four steals. American Demya Walker was named MVP after 14 points and 10 rebounds.