By RUSSELL BENNETT
DANDENONG’s SEABL men and women both endured frustrating weekends on the hardwood, recording just one win from their four combined games.
Saturday night saw the Rangers travel to Nunawading Stadium to take on the Spectres but the home side was too good in both the men’s and women’s clashes.
The Rangers men were blown out of the water in the final three quarters, suffering a 22-point defeat, 95-73.
The visitors started strongly, taking a 26-22 lead into the first change but that just seemed to light a fire under the Spectres who then took complete control – winning 95-73.
Andrew Harms (20 points and 4 rebounds) and Daequon Montreal (15 and 8) stood tall for the Rangers, but they had no answer for the might of Nunawading’s Simon Conn who recorded a massive 20 point-20 rebound double-double.
But Dandenong turned its fortunes around at home the following night with a stirring five-point triumph over ladder-leaders Bendigo, snapping the Braves’ huge winning streak in the process.
Montreal and Harms were again the standouts – this time dominating on their own accord.
Montreal led all scorers with 27 points but also stuffed the stats sheet with 8 boards, 4 assists and 3 steals while shooting better than 40 per cent from downtown and 90 per cent from the charity stripe.
Rangers coach Darren Perry was particularly impressed with Montreal’s willingness to mix it in the low-post with Bendigo star Ivan McFarlin (22 points and 13 boards).
By looking for his shots both in and out of the paint, Perry said Montreal’s shot selection really shone.
“The last couple of weeks our ball movement has really been improving, too,” Perry said.
“It then becomes easier to find guys for open shots.
“Sometimes you can just try too hard to get the ball to open guys.”
Perry was impressed by his side’s unending willingness to compete, saying “we just found a way to win”.
“We now need to maintain that standard of play over the next two weeks,” he said.
The Rangers women also went down to the Spectres, but in a much tighter affair – 57-53.
Faith Probst was Dandenong’s best with a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in a dirty shooting night for the Rangers – at just a 27 per cent clip from the field.
Tegan Cunningham was the standout for the home side, finishing with 24 points and 10 boards in a dominant display.
The Rangers women closed out their weekend with a heartbreaking one-point loss, 60-59 after Bendigo roared back in the final quarter with an 18-6 run.
Amelia Todhunter and Faith Probst put in huge efforts for the home side – finishing with 16 points and 5 boards; and 9 points, 15 boards and 3 steals respectively.
The Rangers next take on Albury Wodonga at home this Saturday night from 5.30pm.
