GREATER Dandenong Council honoured Dandenong Rangers’ WNBL championship side with a civic reception last Monday.
The Rangers won the WNBL grand final, beating Bulleen Boomers in front of a sell-out crowd at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville on March 11.
The title meant Dandenong Basketball Association teams now hold the four major championships in Australian women’s basketball.
DBA’s South East Australian Basketball League women’s and D-League teams along with the Women’s Wheelchair Basketball League team also won grand finals in the past year.
Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea praised the Rangers for the example they have set for young women and for the side’s promotion of the Greater Dandenong area across the nation.
Rangers coach Mark Wright said the Rangers took the Dandenong name across the country through ABC national television.
“This team puts the Dandenong name on the national stage,” Wright said. “Now people have seen Dandenong win a national championship. It’s a wonderful thing.”
The majority of the Rangers’ title team attended the reception along with team sponsors and DBA officials.
Rangers stars Kath Macleod and Jenna O’Hea could be in line for WNBL all-star five honours at the NBL-WNBL most valuable player presentation at Crown Casino tonight.
Both players had outstanding years for the Rangers and either player could also poll well in the MVP award although Adelaide’s Suzy Batkovic and Bulleen’s Liz Cambage will start as favourites for the honour.
■ Dandenong Rangers SEABL men claimed a 94-74 win over North-West Tasmania Thunder at Dandenong Stadium yesterday.
The Rangers took control of the game in the second half behind a variety of scorers with Venky Jois (15 points, 12 rebounds), Lucas Barker (15 points) and point guard Andrew Harms (15 points, six rebounds) leading the way while Daequon Montreal (14 points) and Tony Lewis (13 points) were both in double figures.
The Rangers women beat Launceston Tornadoes 88-50 earlier in the day.
