By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Dandenong Rangers SEABL men’s and women’s teams have returned from a successful Tasmanian trip in which they bagged three victories out of four games.
Both sides played back-to-back games last Friday and Saturday, with the women roaring to two wins, and the men splitting their match-ups with Hobart and North West Tasmania.
Tony Lewis and Andrew Harms were the stars for Dandenong in game one, with huge individual efforts to see their side over the line against Hobart 86-75.
With the visitors trailing 50-45 at the half, the pair hit the afterburners. Big man Lewis scored almost a point a minute, finishing with a huge double-double – 30 points and 12 rebounds. He also drained three of five from downtown, and shot at an impressive 57 per cent clip from the field.
Harms was fantastic in a supporting role, finishing with 27 points and 7 boards and even better shooting percentages than Lewis.
The third proved to be the money quarter for the Rangers, outscoring the Chargers 26 points to 11 as they established their game-winning margin.
But the Thunder proved a different proposition for the Rangers the following night in Ulverstone, winning 89-74.
Daequon Montreal led Dandenong admirably with a superb all-around game – 26 points, 12 boards and 6 assists. But Lewis and Harms both had off nights – combining for 25 points on a gruesome 9-28 from the floor. Tom Wright was the assassin for North West Tasmania, finishing with 30 points – including 5-8 from long-range. The Thunder had four other players finish with double-figure, scoring nights in a fine all-around team performance.
But the Rangers women left the apple isle with an unblemished record – outlasting Hobart 65-58 before annihilating Launceston 89-53 the following night.
Dandenong’s first match-up wasn’t one for the basketball purists – as both the Rangers and Lady Chargers struggled to maintain any consistency from the field. Neither side reached 20 points in any one quarter, but it was on the defensive end that Dandenong really got to work – easily winning the rebounding and turnover battles. Faith Probst continued her fine form for Dandenong, recording an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included 5 steals. But it was Amelia Todhunter (14 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) who, despite having an off shooting night, really led from the front – coming to within a rebound and two assists of recording an elusive triple-double.
But the Rangers’ win over the Tornados on Saturday was nothing short of a procession. They kept Launceston to just 16 second-half points, which included a miserly 12 per cent from the field in the final quarter.
The Tornados were restricted to less than 30 per cent from the field for the entire clash – a testament to the Rangers’ incredible defence. Probst (10 points and 14 boards) and Todhunter (19 and 11) again led the way.
Dandenong is now just one win behind Bendigo for top spot on the women’s SEABL East ladder, while the men sit in third sport in their competition.
The Rangers will take on Bendigo in Dandenong this Sunday, with the women’s tip-off at noon.
