By Nick Creely
In a riveting and hot contest, the Dandenong Rangers dropped away late to fall by 12-points to an impressive Perth Lynx at Dandenong Stadium last Thursday night.
Although the Lynx blew the game wide open in a scintillating 9-18 final term, the game was tight throughout, with both defences rock solid.
Still feeling the effects of star playmaker Sara Blicavs’ season ending injury, the Rangers are still searching for ways to cover her imposing presence.
The Lynx had the early running in the game to take a three-point lead into quarter time, but a more defensive approach ensured the Rangers could claw the deficit back to just one-point at half time.
With skipper Steph Blicavs battling hard to keep her side in the contest, the Lynx gained some ascendency and locked down defensively, and started to convert their baskets, claiming the critical victory on the glass (43-33).
It continues a string of inconsistency for last year’s WNBL runners-up, who are still desperately searching for a winning formula after an off-season which saw more departures than expected.
The Rangers played Adelaide Lightning at the State Basketball Centre on Saturday night, in what was a WNBL cluster round.
Meanwhile, Sara Blicavs gave Rangers fans an update on her season ending injury before the game.
“Unfortunately for me, I did my ACL, meniscus and had a small fracture in my knee,” she told Rangers TV.
“It’s going to be challenging (the rehab), I’ve never had a big injury before, but it’s very common in the Blicavs household.
“I’m taking it in the best possible way – it’s going to great for my basketball career, I need to learn how to deal with this stuff.”
FULL SCORES
Dandenong Rangers 62
Perth Lynx 74
MAJOR STATS
Dandenong Rangers – Steph Blicavs (17 points, three assists, two rebounds), Tess Lavey (11 points, six rebounds, six assists), Kayla Pedersen (10 points, five rebounds, two assists).
Perth Lynx – Courtney Williams (21 points, seven rebounds, five assists), Sami Whitcomb (14 points, seven rebounds), Alice Kunek (14 points, three rebounds, three assists).
