By ROY WARD
– Dandenong Rangers men’s fixture 2013
ON the court and off it, Dandenong Rangers import Tony Lewis is an enigma.
The 201-centimetre forward was one of the finds of the South East Australian Basketball League season in 2012, quickly becoming one of the most dynamic and unpredictable scorers in the league, making three-pointers and driving to the basket with equal abandon.
But off court he is quiet and thoughtful yet also accessible to those who stop him and say hello.
Lewis showed his versatility at times by forcing steals from smaller guards or blocking the shots of leading big men, along with making a couple of crucial fourth-quarter performances to help the Rangers in several close wins.
The Rangers managed to win the east conference and play off against Albury-Wodonga for the SEABL championship, a game that went down to the final play as Lewis missed a contested three-point shot which would have won the Rangers the title.
He said the lure of unfinished business was one of the prime reasons he returned to the Rangers.
“Last year was an exciting season,” he said. “I really enjoyed myself and Dandenong treated me really well. I want to say the loss made me want to come back even more — there are still things I want to accomplish.”
In the opening few matches of last season, Lewis was clearly uncomfortable playing in a new country and with new referees and rules.
He soon found ways he could contribute and he credited Rangers coach Darren Perry with giving him confidence to play the game his own way.
This season Lewis has set himself two goals: to lead the Rangers to the SEABL championship and to win the most valuable player award.
“I just look to every game and challenge myself to play harder than I did last year,” he said. “The competition is really good and the imports are good. I just look to keep challenging myself.”
Lewis also looks forward to returning to his work running Rangers school clinics, with parents and teachers surprised at how well the tall, shy American handled students last year.
“It’s just my accent, they find it hard to understand me sometimes but they love it and I enjoy doing it,” he said.
With former Rangers junior and Melbourne Tigers development player Owen Odigie coming into the side this season, Lewis said the Rangers looked to be a more determined team.
Venky Jois, Lucas Barker (both US colleges) and Ben Louis (Frankston) have exited the team.
“I think we will be a little tougher and a little better in a few positions,” he said.
The SEABL season begins on Friday night.
