Big test for ailing Rangers

By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG Rangers coach Mark Wright is all but resigned to tackling Friday night’s WNBL blockbuster against Bulleen without his two best players.
Star point guard Kath MacLeod suffered concussion during last Friday night’s 74-59 win over Sydney Uni and was rushed to Dandenong Hospital after fainting on the floor after the match.
Scans later revealed no serious damage from an inadvertent knee to the head, but Wright said he’s unlikely to risk MacLeod for the eagerly anticipated clash with the Boomers.
Nor does he expect skipper Abby Bishop to recover from a chipped bone in her foot in time to face off against Dandenong’s cross-town rival.
“I know they’re both going to want to play, but, as difficult as it will be to tell them no, the medical staff will have the final say,” Wright said on Tuesday.
“It’s not just about one game, as much as everyone wants to play against Bulleen. We have to be smart about this and think about the end of the season and not the middle.”
The second-placed Boomers will now start as clear favourites on their home court at the Veneto Club, having regained Sharin Milner and Jenna O’Hea from injury over the last fortnight.
Adding further spice to the rivalry, Bulleen now has former Rangers junior Liz Cambage and Rachel Jarry and ex-Dandenong WNBL centre Shelley Burston (nee Hammonds) on its roster.
The Boomers improved to 5-2 for the season with a 69-62 win over Sydney Uni on Saturday night, 24 hours after Dandenong’s impressive display against the Flames.
Forwards Jess Foley (17 points) and Tracy Gahan (16) led the way as the Rangers took control via a 20-8 second quarter, but it was two clutch three-pointers from MacLeod (12) in the last term that finally broke the Flames’ resistance.
MacLeod left the game after falling on an opponent’s knee midway through the third term, but returned to guide her team home.
Wright said the victory, which took his third-placed side to 7-3 for the year, was not to be underrated.
“(The Flames) are no pushovers for anyone, and they proved that against Bulleen the next day, so it was a good win in the end,” he said.
There is no doubt that Dandenong’s much-vaunted depth will be tested on Friday night, but Wright says the absence of Bishop and MacLeod would not change his expectations.
“We’re still thinking we’ll win,” he said. “We’ve got lots of talented players and it’ll give them an opportunity to be heroes.”
Tip-off is at 7.30pm on Friday night.