Rangers rev-up gets results

By Paul Pickering
JUST in case his team had misinterpreted its five-point loss to the Melbourne Tigers, Dandenong coach Warren Dawson delivered a wake-up call of his own in the rooms at the Veneto Club on Saturday night.
Dawson was compelled to deliver some home truths to his defending champion Rangers after the match, challenging them to refocus in the wake of their second loss of the season in the Big V Championship Men’s division.
“I told them if they don’t learn from this (game), they’re not going to be in a position to challenge for the championship this year … that our season would be a premature one,” Dawson said.
Despite describing his own players as ‘flat’ and their defence as ‘ordinary’, Dawson was keen to acknowledge Melbourne’s performance.
The Tigers’ starting five on Saturday night are all members of the club’s National Basketball League squad, which gives some indication of why Al Westover’s charges have won their past nine games.
With the imposing frontcourt duo of Adrien Sturt (24 points, 15 rebounds) and Daniel Johnson (23) firing, the Tigers established a lead in the second quarter and never looked back.
Rangers Vince Inglima (20), Brent Hobba (18, 15), Ash Cannan (17) and Adrian Campbell (17) all made solid contributions, but the trademark Dandenong intensity was missing.
To their credit – and Dawson’s relief – it returned against Latrobe City at Stud Road on Sunday, when the Rangers pounded the lowly Energy 104-60.
“To a man, I know they were stung a little bit by what I said after the game on Saturday night,” Dawson said.
“I know they took it to heart, and Sunday’s performance was much improved.”
Predictably, Dandenong was led by Cann (26, 15), Hobba (22, 17) and Inglima (21).
Meanwhile, the Rangers’ Championship Women also endured a dark night at the Veneto Club on Saturday, losing a dramatic overtime battle in the curtain raiser.
In what wildly fluctuating tussle, Melbourne established a 21-9 lead at quarter-time, only for Dandenong to wrestle back a two-point lead after a 25-11 third term.
But the Tigers rallied again to force the game into an extra period and ultimately triumph 71-69.
A game-high 23 points from Dandenong’s Mel Colcott wasn’t enough to prevent an agonising defeat, as Melbourne’s Cara Angel (17), Michelle Brogan (15, 7) and Laura Thomas (14) guided the home side clear in the dying minutes.
Rangers coach Michael Davies summed up his feelings post-match.
“Comebacks don’t mean much if you don’t win,” he said.
The Rangers women will face Geelong at The Arena on Sunday, while the men head to Diamond Valley on Saturday night.