By JARROD POTTER
CAPPING off an exceptional return to Dandenong Basketball Stadium this summer, Rangers guard Steph Cumming picked up two major awards this week.
Cumming, 25, from Endeavour Hills, didn’t miss a beat in her return to the green-and-gold as she was the constant presence that held the side together as injuries plagued the Rangers’ 2015/16 campaign.
Playing in every clash, Cumming was instrumental in the club returning to the finals for the sixth consecutive WNBL season as she averaged 15.8 points, four rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, including eight games over 20 points in her 2015/16 campaign.
“She was just super consistent all year – I think her game really improved and she did it up both ends,” Dandenong coach Larissa Anderson said.
“She took on that extra responsibility – we needed her scoring and she then took on a key defensive assignment each game and I thought she improved a lot.”
It adds to the WNBL Defensive Player of the Year award she was awarded earlier in the week by the league and she also finished sixth in the league MVP voting.
Another Rangers’ 2015/16 recruit Sara Blicavs was given the Coaches Award by Larissa Anderson for a stellar year in her return to Stud Road.
Speaking of returns, Jacinta Kennedy capped off an amazing revival after 10 years away from the WNBL courts and was duly rewarded with the Janine Fielder Award as the “player’s player”.
“The girls got it spot on – got a lot of wonderful girls in the team but it’s well documented that we’re lucky to have someone of Sinno’s (Kennedy) calibre,” Anderson said.
“She stepped in as our starting five man and cemented that role – she’s not a five man in the national league and did a great job for us.
“She’s such a lovely person, which she hates when we say that, but the fact of the matter that’s exactly what she is and how she goes about everyday life.
“She’s an utmost professional and first to pick anyone up and I think that award was perfect for her.”
Stepping up to fill the starting guard role – with Aimie Clydesdale injured early on – Amelia Todhunter was named Dandenong’s Defensive Player of the Year after taking to any defensive task throughout the season.
All told it made for a memorable Rangers’ season and Anderson believes there is a lot left on the horizon that this team can achieve.
“Thankful for the support we got on and off the court with our supporters and we’ve also got wonderful past players around the club now,” Anderson said.
“Really happy to be around and, for me, it couldn’t be more special to have those sorts of people besides me supporting the girls.
“We’ve got an exciting group and I think the Rangers can be a force to be reckoned with.”
Cumming and Blicavs now prepare for the Australian Opals trials as the team goes into a training camp from 29 March to 3 April at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra.
