Dandenong coach Dale Waters addresses his charges during their first-up loss to Bulleen on Friday night.Ranger Shelley Hammonds fights her way to the basket against Bulleen defender Elyse Penaluna on Friday night.By Paul Pickering
A DISJOINTED and undermanned Dandenong Rangers outfit has emerged winless from its opening round double-header in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).
A raucous crowd of nearly 1000 fans packed into Dandenong Stadium on Friday night for the season opener, hoping to see the Rangers unveil their new run and gun game plan against traditional rivals the Bulleen Boomers.
There was certainly plenty of run from both sides, but the Rangers’ firing squad was horrendously wayward, shooting an embarrassing 0-14 from beyond the three-point arc and 32 per cent from the field.
Despite rallying from an early deficit to get within two points in the third quarter, Dandenong faded away in the final term to go down 67-57.
With prized recruit Michelle Brogan looking on from the sidelines due to injury, the Rangers struggled to find a consistent avenue to the basket.
Only first-gamer Faith Probst managed to penetrate the Boomers defence with any assuredness, scoring 15 points in limited minutes to secure MVP honours for the Rangers.
Meanwhile, former Ranger Emma Randall dropped in 23 points – including four three-pointers – for the Boomers, receiving handy support from Desi Glaubitz (14) Anna Crosswhite (13).
Adding injury to insult for the Rangers, skipper Caitlin Ryan sustained a severely swollen toe during the match, meaning she had little impact on the contest.
As coach Dale Waters conceded on Monday, backing up against league debutante Bendigo Spirit the following night was always going to be a big ask.
So it proved, as the Spirit rode a wave of emotion to rout the Rangers 87-66.
Dandenong had no answer for the duo of Kristy Harrower (21points, 11 rebounds) and Gabrielle Richards (23, 10), while the Rangers again struggled on offence to shoot 37 per cent from the field.
Shelley Hammonds, returning this season from a chronic back injury, led the Rangers in both points (14) and rebounds (6), and Probst again made the most of her court time to score 12 points.
While Waters said it had been a rusty start for his new-look squad, he assured fans there were no grounds for panic.
“It was disappointing, but it’s probably a reflection of a new group,” he said.
“I always thought it was going to be an evolving process.
“We’re certainly heading along the right track, it’s just a matter of working well together.”
Waters said the focus this week would be on reprogramming the Rangers’ defensive mindset rather than addressing their shooting woes.
“We spoke after the game (on Saturday night) about defensive containment and individual accountability – I think that’s what hurt us,” he said.
Waters said Dandenong was destined to remain slightly top-heavy until running guard Chantella Perera joined the team in December after completing her studies in the United States.
While he had hoped to get Brogan back for this weekend’s road double against Adelaide and Perth, Waters said the veteran would be out for at least another week.
Clearly, the onus will be on the likes of Ryan and Emily McInerny to find their range this weekend, thereby releasing the pressure valve for their rookie head coach.
