Smooth movers

By Paul Pickering
A VIRTUOSO performance from gun forward Brent Hobba catapulted Dandenong to a 126-85 victory over Eltham in the Big V Championship Men’s division on Saturday night.
Hobba’s 43 points and 14 rebounds headlined a dominant display from the Rangers, as the reigning champs victimised the Wildcats on their home court.
Eltham had no answer for Hobba’s array of moves and extensive shooting range, as the gifted West Australian big man connected on 15-of-20 from the field and four-of-six from beyond the arc.
Taking their cue from Hobba, the Rangers won every quarter and finished with a 35-11 final term.
After surviving a frustrating run of injuries to key players, Saturday night’s win signaled a welcome return to top form for the Rangers.
With stars Vince Inglima (27 points, 7 rebounds) and Ash Cannan (25, 9) approaching full fitness again, Dandenong looks to have negotiated a challenging month without significant damage.
A solitary loss to Sandringham on Anzac Day remains the only blemish on the Rangers 8-1 record – good for second in the division.
Meanwhile, Dandenong is sitting in third in the Championship Women’s division after splitting its home-away double against Bulleen and Geelong on the weekend.
The Rangers surprised nobody in dispatching of the hapless Boomers on Saturday night, but the manner in which they did it was nothing less than spectacular.
The 69-30 win was driven home by a stunning defensive stand in the second half, when the Rangers conceded just six points in 24 minutes of basketball.
Lucy Dawson (16) was the only Boomer to score more than a handful of points for the night, while Dandenong’s Mel Colcott (14), Tess Meyer (11), Claire Fitzgerald (11) and Faith Probst (11) all found their own avenues to the basket.
On Sunday, the Rangers travelled to The Arena in Geelong only to come away empty-handed.
The home town Cats led from wire-to-wire, closing it out 64-54 on the back of an impressive all-round performance.
Only Probst (10) and Colcott (10) could trouble the Geelong defence with any regularity.
There will be no respite for the Rangers (6-4) this weekend as they travel to Waverley (7-1) and Sandringham (6-4) on Saturday night and Sunday.
Meanwhile, the men will host winless Warrnambool on Saturday night before facing the dangerous Ringwood Hawks (3-6) at Maroondah Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.