Rangers pipped at the post

By Gavin Staindl
THE Dandenong Rangers season was summed up in the final five minutes of their final game on Saturday night when they went down 82-81 to Adelaide Lightening at Dandenong Stadium.
After a topsy-turvey game that had 21 lead changes, Dandenong allowed Lightening to break away to a five-point lead and from then – similar to their season – the Rangers were constantly chasing from behind.
The Rangers began to reel in their opponents but when the siren sounded for the 2009/10 season the Rangers were left short of victory.
The “offensive orientated game” was tight for most of the match and came down to the final second.
With 6.7 seconds left and no timeouts remaining the Rangers forced a turnover from an inbound pass but were not able to make the basket in the final second to seal the win.
Alison Downie scored 18 points for the Rangers and Ashley Lindsay had 16 points and 10 rebounds coming off the bench.
Caitlin Ryan kept the Rangers in contact down the stretch by nailing two long three-pointers but could not get the ball to roll in for the final shot.
Departing coach Dean Kinsman said it was an entertaining match that could have been won by either team.
“It was a free game that ebbed and flowed … but sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t,” Kinsman said of that final shot that rimmed out.
Kinsman, who intends to stay in the basketball scene, was naturally disappointed with the season.
“When I took over we went 4-2 before Christmas and I felt we made progress … but we didn’t step up after Christmas and the players were playing without vigour,” Kinsman said.
Kinsman, who is to be replaced by former Rangers coach Mark Wright, said the future of the Rangers would be determined by how well the club could recruit good players.
“The Rangers are one of a few teams in the WNBL who are still based on a club. They need to continue to develop that but need to target selective WNBL recruits.
“You look and the better teams, they have four or five girls between 6 foot 3 and 6 foot 8… we are very, very small with Ash Lindsay being our tall and she is 6 foot 2,” Kinsman said.
Dandenong finished eighth on the ladder with a 6-16 record.