By JARROD POTTER
BEING ‘clutch’ is more of a mindset than a trainable skill.
Having the necessary calmness to delivery under immense pressure is something only a select few players can harness at a moment’s notice – and thankfully for Dandenong, its new point guard recruit Leilani Mitchell has that quality in spades.
Mitchell brought down the house with her perimeter shooting at Sydney Stadium on Friday night with a pair of long-range three-pointers late in the game to push the Rangers ahead 85-79.
While Sydney Uni had flown under the radar in their recruiting and off-season business, the Flames lit up the court on Friday night – going toe-to-toe with the higher-fancied Dandenong.
Kathleen Scheer (20 points, seven rebounds) and Rohanee Cox (19 points) both held their own in the post against Dandenong’s talls’ Kayla Pedersen (10 points, six rebounds), Alison Downie (six rebounds) and Brigitte Ardossi (six points).
Off limited minutes Jenna O’Hea (29 points, three assists, three rebounds) showcased why she is one of the best players in the league.
Alice Kunek (12 points) and Natalie Novosel (11 points) also reached double digits and Rosie Moult (five points) received her Dandenong debut.
Dandenong sits second on the WNBL ladder as of Sunday afternoon, with Townsville still to square off against Melbourne as the Dandenong Journal went to print.
The Rangers return to Melbourne this week to face Townsville on Saturday from 2pm – with former Rangers’ pair Steph Cumming and Rosie Fadljevic set to return to Dandenong Basketball Stadium for the first time since their switch to the Fire.
