Above: Star American import Lester Strong returns to the Dandenong Rangers ranks this season for another crack at the Big V basketball championship.By Glen Atwell
THE Dandenong Rangers will tip off in the Big V basketball season with a double header at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium this Saturday night.
A men’s team and a women’s team will contest the championship division, giving fans a double dose of Rangers action.
Star American import Lester Strong returns to men’s side, along with a number of talented recruits.
Ash Cannan, a 200-centimetre forward, and Brent Hobba (204cm) have left Kalgoorlie in the Western Australia state league to join the Rangers.
Hobba played with National Basketball League (NBL) side Perth Wildcats in the 2005-06 season.
Returning to the court for Dandenong from last season are Adrian Campbell, Mark Roberts, Russell Cranston, David Godfrey, Jeremy Kirtley, Chris Law and Lester Strong.
Former Dandenong junior Mick Wheeler had returned from Kilsyth to play with the club, but a severe knee injury has ruined his chances to play for the Rangers this season.
Head coach Warren Dawson said losing Wheeler was unfortunate, but he was confident of his side’s chances this season.
“We’ve picked up a couple of good, tall players and we needed to because the competition is getting stronger,” he said.
“I’m happy with where we are at.”
Dawson said Strong tweaked his ankle during a practice match last Saturday, but was expected to play this weekend.
The Rangers play Waverley this Saturday night at 8pm.
The Big V women’s team will be strengthened by the return of Christina Fox from the Australian Institute of Sport and Alison Downie, who missed the last Big V season with a knee injury.
Players returning include Demelza Waixel, Margot Phan, Faye Phan, Jess Shearing, Katina Mandylaris, Tess Meyer, Fazlyn Hartley and Melissa Colcott.
Michael Davies will again coach the side and said he was confident of another top-three finish.
“We finished top last season then lost in semi-finals. We’re hoping to go one better this year,” he said.
“The team seems a lot more polished.
“Having Downie back on the court will be great. Her accuracy from the perimeter is deadly.”
In his 11th year of involvement with the side, Davies said the Rangers were stronger but the competition was improving out of sight.
“A lot of teams have picked up some good players. It’s hard to predict how we will match up,” he said.
The women’s team opens the double-header at Dandenong Basketball Stadium this Saturday night, playing Waverley.
Tip-off is at 6pm.
