Rangers import Vince Inglima scored 26 points in Dandenong’s 105-91 win over Ringwood on Sunday. 19980 By Paul Pickering
IN the wake of his side’s comfortable victory over Ringwood on Sunday, Dandenong coach Warren Dawson declared that his Rangers were no longer the team to beat in the Big V Championship Men’s division.
The Rangers easily accounted for the Hawks 105-91 at Stud Road, but it was the performance of the Melbourne Tigers the previous night that caught Dawson’s eye.
The Tigers, stacked with National Basketball League talent, beat the Sandringham Sabres 113-94 on their home court to vault into second spot on the ladder.
“After watching the game last night, Melbourne are the championship favourites because they’re playing better team basketball than everyone else,” Dawson said.
While the improved Tigers pose a legitimate threat to Dandenong’s three-peat aspirations, the Rangers are still in the box seat to secure top spot and home court advantage throughout the play-offs.
Sunday’s win over Ringwood saw Dandenong’s record improve to 15-3, ahead of Melbourne (13-3) and Sandringham (12-3) with three weeks to run in the regular season.
It was a workmanlike performance from the Rangers, as Brent Hobba (29 points, 12 rebounds), Vince Inglima (26), Matt Witherden (21) and Ash Cannan (18, 10) victimised the Hawks inside.
After leading by 23 points at three-quarter time, the Rangers cruised home in the final term as Ringwood’s Luke McMillan (24) and Matt Snowball (15) led a final quarter resurgence of sorts.
The Rangers will finish off the regular season with a three-game away stretch, including trips to Latrobe City this Saturday night, Sandringham and Warrnambool.
It seems likely that a win against the Sabres this weekend will secure top spot.
Meanwhile, Dandenong’s Championship Women tightened their grip on third spot by shaking off the Eltham Wildcats 71-58 on Sunday.
The Rangers improved to 12-5 and will be able to lock in a play-off berth with a victory over the Wildcats in the away leg of the double-header this weekend.
On Sunday, Dandenong received contributions from all over the court, with Demelza Waixel (12, 12) and Faith Probst (10, 11) a force in the paint, while Fazlyn Hartley (15, four assists, four steals), Mel Colcott (15) and Fahy Phan (10) provided the perimeter punch.
Eltham was led by Kylie Steven (12, 9) and Sarah Lang (12).
This Sunday’s game at Eltham High School will start at 2.30pm, while the Rangers men will resume hostilities with Latrobe City at Traralgon Basketball Stadium from 8.15pm on Saturday.
