Lauren Jackson is coming to Dandenong and the superstar will no doubt provide Rangers coach Gary Fox with tactical headaches.– Glen Atwell
ONLY the world’s best woman basketballer stands between the Dandenong Rangers and winning a third Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) championship.
At 196 centimetres, Lauren Jackson won’t be an easy mountain for the Rangers to climb as they continue their ascent toward WNBL glory.
Jackson will lead the Canberra Capitals into the sold-out Dandenong Basketball Stadium grand final at 4pm Saturday with snowballing confidence after a match-winning performance against the Adelaide Fellas last weekend.
Jackson scored only eight points in the first half, but piled on 25 in the second and collected 11 rebounds to help secure victory for the Capitals in overtime.
Jackson returned to Australia after a stellar season for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA, but was dogged by stress fractures in her left leg.
A faster-than-expected recovery allowed the 24-year-old to return to the court and ‘LJ’ has since played a crucial role in the Capitals’ journey to the WNBL grand final.
Rangers’ coach Gary Fox said Jackson was a tremendous player and would be hard to stop.
“There is no doubt she will be scoring points.
“Last time we held her pretty well and we’ll be looking to move the ball quickly and use our speed,” Fox said.
Fox said Jacinta Hamilton would start on Jackson but Emily McInerny would also be used in the defensive effort.
For those who missed out on tickets, Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on ABC TV from 4pm.
