By JARROD POTTER
SEABL – round 6
RANGERS swung through Canberra on Saturday night and flew out Sunday with a pair of wins in the carry-on luggage.
The men brushed aside the Canberra Gunners in a 85-75 triumph on Saturday night.
Canberra gunned ahead 28-20 at the end of the first, but hard-work was wrought by Dandenong in the second term to drag back the deficit and take a one-point lead at the half.
Basketball Victoria’s Male Coach of the Year Darren Perry had his work cut out for himself to rotate the Rangers’ younger guards with star point Andrew Harms not taking the court.
Tall timber was a cut above for the Rangers as Tony Lewis (27 points, 8 rebounds) and Daequon Montreal (25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) flew the flag for Dandenong. Also impressive was Brent Hobba (17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 blocks).
Taken to overtime by the resolute Capitals, Dandenong women had to grind out their 74-72 victory.
Full-court efforts from Lauren Scherf (16 points, 9 rebounds), who recently received Basketball Victoria’s Young Female Player of the Year award, lived up to her rising-star billing as she almost reeled in a double-double.
Refreshed from a European holiday, Amelia Todhunter (14 points) picked up where she left off seamlessly at point, while Faith Probst (11 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, 5 steals) was scintillating at both ends of the court as she posted relatively unheard numbers in SEABL of previous seasons.
The Rangers return home this weekend for a Saturday night double-header against Frankston from 5.30pm.