By JARROD POTTER
BACK-TO-BACK WNBL pre-season hit-outs over the weekend showed plenty of promise for a new-look Dandenong Rangers.
Dandenong showed that despite losing 2014/’15 star trio Penny Taylor, Cappie Pondexter and Kathleen Macleod, there’s plenty to be excited about coming from Stud Road.
Coached at the WNBL level for the first time by former Rangers’ player Larissa Anderson, Dandenong put its doubters back in their place with emphatic victories over Adelaide and Bendigo.
After drawing with the Perth Lynx (formerly West Coast Waves) in their first practice clash last week, the Rangers had no such issues running out victorious in the last fortnight of its pre-season.
Dandenong rested two starters – Aimie Clydesdale and up-and-coming centre Alex Bunton – on Saturday against Adelaide to give plenty of opportunity to a sea of familiar faces.
The Rangers’ depth starred in the 105-71 triumph, in particular their returning champion Jacinta Kennedy.
The Rangers’ centre showed she’s not just a force at SEABL level as she has smashed through her first WNBL pre-season in 10 years – terrorising opposition under the ring with her impressive wingspan and deadeye shooting outside the key.
Back-up point guard Amelia Todhunter relished extended time at point alongside nimble guards Tenaya Phillips (Narre Warren South) and Bree Whatman (Beaconsfield), with the trio showcasing a bit of the potential Dandy speed set to blow sides off the park.
Australian Opal Sara Blicavs ensured the Lightning would not have it any easier on the wings, with the WNBL champion picking up at Dandenong where she last left off in 2012/’13.
Anderson said the Rangers needed to show more defensively “I don’t think there’s any issue with scoring, our focus will be defensively,” Anderson said.
“That’s exactly what practice matches are for- we’ve got a lot of work to do and we’re no different to any other team – that we wished we had a few more weeks together to iron out the creases, but it is what it is.
“Compared from game one to now, we’ve made a massive improvement … and for us it’s just a matter of getting used to each other and getting it all done.”
Anderson was impressed by the side’s bench stocks – which will allow Dandenong to play up-tempo ball getting players in and out rapidly.
Dandenong backed up its Saturday rampage by blitzing the Bendigo Spirit 88-65 at Traralgon in its second last pre-season clash.
Holding the Spirit to only 11 points in the second term, the Rangers launched into their high-speed offence once more to unleash another superb scoring performance.
Blicavs (19 points, seven rebounds, six assists) was sensational across the court while Phillips (14 points, five assists) impressed once more and Alex Bunton (eight points, nine rebounds) showed her might under the ring from only 14 minutes court-time.
Dandenong heads away to face Melbourne Boomers on Thursday in its last practice match before its WNBL season opener against the University of Canberra Capitals away on 10 October before the Rangers’ first home match on Friday 16 October against South East Queensland.
