Dandenong’s Tegan Cunningham gets the shot away despite the heavy presence of Sydney’s Belinda Snell bearing down on her. 74551 Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Jarrod Potter
A VICTORY over the dominant Sydney Uni Flames last Saturday will have the Dandenong Rangers full of confidence before their match against the Townsville Fire.
Townsville recently released import forward Vivian Frierson from the team, citing personal reasons to return home.
In her place, Townsville signed twin prodigies Alicia and Keely Froling, 15, and promoted Alicia to the roster for last week’s 69-60 win against the Logan Thunder.
Dandenong went three-for-three in their recent home fixtures and travel to Townsville to face the Fire on Saturday night.
The Rangers put the pressure on the Sydney Uni Flames with a 80-69 win.
Krista Phillips was tentatively kept in cottonwool by the Rangers’ coaching staff, leaving Louella Tomlinson and Brittany Wilkins to take centre duties on Ellyce Ironmonger, who was kept to nine points and three rebounds.
Kathleen Macleod continued her all-star worthy season with 15 points and 13 assists – beating the previous Rangers record of 11 set by Emily McInerny 10 years ago. Steph Cumming top scored for the Rangers with 16 points.
Alison Downie and Tegan Cunningham controlled the air, taking 10 and seven rebounds respectively.
“In the context of how the other results have gone this week, it’s a big result for us,” Dandenong coach Mark Wright said. “It puts us one game out of second.
“You never know with a team like that (Sydney) – they’re really tough and they never give up, so it was a battle until the end.”
“When Sydney went small we were able to go small and when Sydney tried to go big we obviously got the bigs on.
Krista Phillips was kept on the sidelines to make sure she’s at peak fitness for the Townsville match and the double-header against Bendigo and West Coast in round 13.
“Krista will be fine for Townsville and it was important to try and keep her off as we have Townsville away then the double the week after before the Christmas break, so if it was possible I wasn’t going to play her,” Wright said.
“We could’ve played her if it was closer.”
In place of Phillips, it was once again Tomlinson who showed her potential as an up-and-coming premier.
“Lou is doing a fantastic job,” Wright said. “Her timing on her blocked shots is amazing so I’m sure she’s getting the respect she deserves in the league … she’s doing a tremendous job.”
The ability for Macleod to switch from a 36-point effort against Bendigo to her set-up role against Sydney is something that Wright sees as a great strength for the team.
“(Numbers) 15 and 13 are tremendous numbers no matter what league, but especially in this league against Alicia Poto,” Wright said.
“Kathleen is proving game in, game out that she’s not just a scorer, but she’s a playmaker and I love the way she’s handling things.”
