Dandy team carries final hopes

By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG’S Youth League men will carry the hopes of a proud basketball club into the second game of their Big V grand final series on Saturday night.
The Rangers development squad claimed a crucial away win in the series-opener at Diamond Valley on Saturday night, surging clear in the final term to set-up an 83-67 victory.
Diamond Valley trailed by just three points at the last break, but the pressure of the championship decider weighed more heavily on the hometown Eagles in the dying minutes.
Meanwhile, Rangers coach Stewart Baird implored his charges to relax at the three-quarter time and they responded, outscoring the Eagles 24-12 in an up-tempo finish.
Baird was impressed with the maturity shown by his young players – both during and after the match.
“We’re very excited, but I think the pleasing thing is that there were no over-the-top celebrations,” he said.
“They know we’ve still got a job to do.”
The Rangers were again led by centre Mehmed Bektas (19 points, 11 rebounds), while Abdul Osman (13), James De Neefe (11) and Roy Brittliff (10) also found their range.
Baird said a trio of third-quarter three-pointers from Osman was the turning point of the game.
He was also keen to acknowledge the efforts of swingman Anthony Scata in limited minutes off the bench.
The Rangers had already beaten Diamond Valley three times this season, so Baird said it was important to keep the Eagles at bay in the opener.
“All they needed was a win to make them believe they can beat us, so I think there’s a real chance that we snuffed that out (on Saturday night),” he explained.
“Psychologically, they have to be hurting.”
On their return to Stud Road, the Rangers will now have two chances to secure the silverware this weekend – with game three to be played on Sunday afternoon if it is required.
With the shock demise of Dandenong’s Championship Men and Championship Women this month, the Youth League 1 Men are the last Rangers squad standing in the Big V competition.
As a long-time assistant to Warren Dawson with Championship Men, Baird is hoping to provide some solace for the dethroned Big V champs this weekend.
“The boys understand what a proud club Dandenong is and they want to get one for the club. And for my part, there’s a little part of me that thinks it’d be nice for the student to get one for the teacher,” he said.
Tip-off is at 6pm on Saturday night.