Dandenong Rangers import Vince Inglima was unstoppable on the weekend against Melbourne, scoring 34 points and restricting Tiger Daryl Corletto to just two points.By Glen Atwell
THE Dandenong Rangers firmed as Big V Championship division favourites after back-to-back wins on the weekend.
Dandenong, undefeated after six games, created history with a 84-64 win against Diamond Valley on Saturday night before crushing Melbourne 124-77 on Sunday afternoon.
It was the Rangers’ first win on the road against Diamond Valley.
Two more wins from as many games has Dandenong on top of the Championship division ladder, two wins clear of closest rival Warrnambool.
Vince Inglima, Ash Cannan and Brent Hobba once again proved too hot to handle for their opponents.
Inglima was particularly devastating against Melbourne, scoring 34 points and converting an amazing 14 of 17 field attempts.
But it was the American import’s defensive shut-out of National Basketball League (NBL) Melbourne Tiger player Daryl Corletto that really wowed the onlookers.
Corletto failed to net a field attempt for the entire game, and was restricted to just two points, which came from the charity line, during his 37 minutes on the court.
Dandenong point guard and assistant coach Mick Wheeler said Inglima was simply superb.
“Vince was amazing. To restrict an NBL star to two points from the free-throw line in 37 minutes of game time – wow,” he said.
“Vince has added so much to our side and has really balanced the team perfectly.”
Inglima said he had seen Corletto play in the NBL when he first arrived in Australia.
“I saw him playing on TV, and coming into this game I was made aware how important he was to the Tigers and how crucial it was to we stop him,” he said.
“It was one of those games when everything went right, everything seemed to work.
“I have started to find my rhythm and the team is gelling really well.”
The Rangers led Melbourne from whistle to whistle, and dominated every centimetre of the court.
Hobba scored 16 points, Dwayne Campbell 13 and Cannan added 11.
Wheeler continued his comeback from injury, starting the game and returning six assists and four points.
Wheeler said he was enjoying his return to the court and is focusing on easing his way back into form.
“It’s been such a long time since I’ve been out there,” he said.
“Before this weekend, my last game was a South-East Australian Basketball League final in August 2005, so it’s been a big break.
“The body is slowly catching up.
“I played 30 minutes on Saturday, and wasn’t sure whether I’d play on Sunday against Diamond Valley, but I got there.”
Wheeler described the game against Diamond Valley as one of the ugliest he had ever seen.
“It was messy. Both teams struggled, but fortunately our guys like playing defence.
“Defence is not a dirty word,” he laughed.
Diamond Valley had scored just 37 points at three-quarter time, and both teams struggled offensively, dwindling at less than 40 per cent efficiency from the field.
Wheeler said unlike some other teams, the Rangers didn’t mind a defensive scrap.
“Some teams want to win 130-120. We don’t care if we win 70-60,” he said.
After two consecutive rounds of back-to-back games, the Rangers play just one match this weekend – on Saturday night against Ringwood.
The game tips off at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium at 7.30pm.
