Up, up and away: Dandenong Rangers dynamo Kathleen Macleod launches toward the basket during a recent game. Picture: Ian Knight Photography, www.ianknightphotography.com.By Glen Atwell
THE Dandenong Rangers are in the Women’s National Basketball League finals.
But after losing four of the first five games, just how did they do it?
The Rangers added the final piece of the puzzle on Saturday night when they held off a surging Adelaide Lightning to record a thrilling 73-69 victory at the Dome.
It was a miracle win – Adelaide had won every home game it had played at the Dome since the start of the season.
As has been the case so many times before, the Rangers never-say-die attitude once again prevailed against all odds.
Saturday’s win propelled Dandenong above cross-town rivals Bulleen Boomers and into fourth spot on the WNBL ladder, earning Gary Fox and his girls a WNBL championship chance.
The Rangers win was nothing short of magical and star forward Jenna O’Hea was busy waving her point-scoring wand all night.
O’Hea added 23 points in a match-winning performance that included eight field goals and three triples.
Shelley Hammonds completed her successful return to the court from long-term injury with what easily was her best performance of the season.
Hammonds netted 17 points, including six from six field attempts and grabbed eight rebounds.
Coach Fox said it was great to have Hammonds back on the court and continually improving.
“It’s great to see – Shelley is such an asset to have coming back into the game at this stage of the season,” he said.
“But it was not just her offensive pressure, she also did a great job defensively on Kristen Rasmussen.”
Rasmussen top-scored for Adelaide with 20 points, but could have easily had more had it not been for Hammonds’ constant pressure.
Adelaide was without its star Erin Phillips, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last week, but Fox said his side was only focused on who was on the court.
“It was a sad and unfortunate injury for Erin, but we were focused on the players out there,” he said.
After leading 63-50 at three-quarter-time, Adelaide embarked on a 12-0 run and closed the margin to two points, 71-69, with less than a minute to play.
But a Cherie Smith travelling violation gave Dandenong possession and Hammonds sealed the historic victory with a two-point basket.
Fox said he wasn’t sure whether playing in Adelaide twice in the same week was an advantage.
“It could go either way, I guess,” he said. “If we win, I’ll say I’m glad we had experienced the atmosphere there. If we lose, I’ll say it didn’t help.”
The Rangers, who will play in their fourth consecutive finals series, have endured a season like never before, but have battled hard to overcome a number of decimating injuries.
Now the Rangers return to Adelaide for a rematch in the first semi-final this Friday night.
With their confidence sky-high and the attitude of ‘never say die’ – Dandenong is definitely the unknown in this season’s WNBL finals.
Tip-off is at 7.30pm.
