Dandenong skipper Caitlin Ryan is swarmed by Bendigo defenders during the Rangers 67-47 loss on Friday night.Picture courtesy Peter Knight.By Paul Pickering
IF LAST week was the ecstasy, this week was the agony for the Dandenong Rangers.
Coach Dale Waters looked to have found the successful offensive blueprint in the Rangers’ supreme win over the Adelaide Lightning, but he is set to tear it up after Friday night’s puzzling home loss to Bendigo.
Having dropped 90 points on flag favourite the Lightning, the Rangers failed to crack the half-century in the absence of Michelle Brogan, succumbing to the Spirit 67-47 at Dandenong Stadium.
The Rangers could have returned to the top four with a win, but squandered the opportunity almost immediately, trailing 21-8 after the first quarter.
After its early struggles, Dandenong became anxious and impatient as the scoreline gradually worsened.
While Brogan’s strained calf – sustained during training midweek – put the Rangers at an immediate disadvantage, an exasperated Waters was not interested in excuses after the match.
“I couldn’t believe it was the same team as last week,” he said.
“I’m extremely disappointed with the result and the effort.”
Dandenong shot a wayward 30 per cent from the field and just 12 of 22 from the free throw line on the night.
Caitlin Ryan (18) and Shelley Hammonds (11) were the only players to look like penetrating the Spirit defence, with just four points coming from the Rangers’ bench.
“We just didn’t get enough offensive firepower,” Waters lamented, before announcing that Dandenong would revert to a more rigid offensive structure.
“We’ve been running a motion offence, but at times we’re not disciplined enough to execute it under pressure.”
Waters is hoping that abandoning a free-wheeling game plan will allow the Rangers to bridge the chasm between their best and worst performances.
Adding to Dandenong’s pain on Friday night was the dominance of departed Ranger Kathleen MacLeod, who contributed 16 points, five assists and four rebounds for her new team.
Meanwhile, Gabrielle Richards defied a sore Achilles to register a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Spirit.
The Rangers will now be looking to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd against the equally erratic Townsville Fire tomorrow (Friday) night.
