Ash Cannan top-scored for Dandenong Rangers with 28 points against Ringwood on Saturday night.By Paul Pickering
THE Dandenong Rangers have iced top spot on the Big V Championship Men’s ladder, shaking off an early challenge from the Ringwood Hawks to emerge 111-90 victors at Maroondah Indoor Sports Centre on Saturday night.
The win enabled the Rangers to secure home and away season honours, despite Sandringham’s convincing win over Warrnambool, setting up a blockbuster top-of-the-table qualifying final at Dandenong Basketball Stadium this Saturday night.
Rangers coach Warren Dawson was forced to call a time out midway through the first term, berating his troops for “abysmal” defence that saw the Hawks streak to an early lead.
His bench responded to the call, lifting the workrate to square the ledger at quarter-time.
While the match was in the balance for three quarters, the Rangers poured on 36 points in the final term to silence the home crowd.
Ash Cannan led the Rangers with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Vince Iglima chipped in with 25 points, seven boards and six assists.
In the end, it was Dandenong’s defensive pressure that strangled the Hawks, forcing 33 turnovers to the Rangers’ 16 and allowing the ladder leader to attempt 33 more shots than its seventh-placed opponent.
Joel Seach played a lone hand for Ringwood, scoring 25 points and pulling in 16 rebounds.
After the game, Dawson noted that top spot was worth little more than bragging rights in a six-team finals structure, in which both first and second-placed teams are guaranteed a preliminary final berth.
He was, however, excited at the prospect of renewing acquaintances with the Sabres after losing a fiery contest in Sandringham a month ago.
Dawson did not take kindly to suggestions that his group had been overly physical during the 16 June match and is expecting “a cracker of a game” this weekend.
“It’s going to be a real battle, a knock ‘em down drag ‘em out sort of affair,” he said.
“There’s going to be at least half a dozen current or former NBL players on show.
“If you’re a basketball fan, it’s got all the ingredients of being one of the games of the season.”
Tip-off for the qualifying final against Sandringham at Dandenong Basketball Stadium is 8pm Saturday.
In Championship Women’s action, Dandenong had a disappointing end to its season, losing to Sandringham and Melbourne in a home double-header.
On Saturday night the Rangers squandered a three-point half-time lead against Sandringham to go down 80-69, with Meagan Green top-scoring with 18 points.
Backing up against the Tigers on Sunday afternoon, Dandenong failed to effect an upset, despite a 32-point outing from Melissa Colcott.
The pair of losses to finals-bound teams left the Rangers in sixth spot with nine wins for the season.
