This was published 7 years ago
Dandenong Rangers use dance and defence to make WNBL grand final over Perth Lynx
By Roy Ward
Dandenong Rangers could have dropped their heads or been consumed by nerves before the deciding game of their semi-final series at Dandenong Stadium on Sunday.
Instead they danced in the locker room pre-game then turned up their team defence leading to a 81-63 win over Perth Lynx which sees them into their first grand final since their championship win in 2011-12.
Dandenong's Aimie Clydesdale drives to the basket against Perth's Carley Mijovic. Credit: Mick Connolly
The Rangers will play Sydney University Flames in game one of the best of three grand final series in Sydney on Saturday night before game two at Dandenong Stadium on March 17 then, if needed, a deciding game three in Sydney on March 19.
While Perth star Sami Whitcomb scorched the Rangers for 41 points in game two in Perth, the Rangers kept faith in stopper Amelia Todhunter and gave her more help in defence forcing the WNBA guard into contested shots although she scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half.
Early on the Rangers broke out to a 32-12 lead but, just as in game one, saw the Lynx bounce back to cut the lead to 60-54 after a Whitcomb steal and layup on three-quarter time.
In the final term the home side continued to make big shots to take home the win.
Rangers guard Steph Cumming led the home side with 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Natalie Novosel scored 16 points, Jacinta Kennedy 13 points and point guard Aimie Clydesdale added 11 points.
Clydesdale said her side was hurting when it lost game two but was back to happy by pre-game on Sunday.
"We were really confident, there were nerves but that's a good thing," Clydesdale said.
"The vibe before the game was amazing and I could tell everyone was going to come out firing, the road trip coming back from Perth was tough but no one said finals would be easy and we really got the job done.
"All these girls are very up-and-about types so there was a little bit of dancing going on in the change rooms and I think it just relaxed everyone a little bit – it was a positive, ready-to-go vibe."
Rangers coach Larissa Anderson has coached most of her team at SEABL level to several championships but in a decorated WNBL career as a player and two seasons coaching at national level this will be her first grand final series.
"There was a lot of flying in three days and that's what I was worried about, most stressed about, after Friday night's games," Anderson said.
"I couldn't be more proud of this lot – I don't think we let Perth get the lead, we knew they would fight back but they learned from Friday night and last week that their pressure up the court is very up and in, but these girls have learned how to take that pressure – it's been a great journey together over the last two seasons."
Perth coach Andy Stewart said his side would rue bad starts in games one and three.
"We didn't come in for an honourable mention – we wanted to go all the way this year," Stewart said.
"They got off to a great start and we got off to a terrible start, we panicked in certain situations and by the time we steadied there was a big margin to fix – we got it back to six but to Dandenong's credit they hit some big shots."
Anderson also revealed Kennedy, who left the WNBL for almost a decade to have children and live overseas with her husband, retired Socceroo Josh Kennedy, had told the team it would be her last WNBL season, two years after her return to the league.
Kennedy will give the side some added motivation for the grand final series with the Flames, just as Todhunter's fearless performance against Whitcomb inspired the side on Sunday.
"I was very upset after the game on Friday," Todhunter admitted.
"All of the girls had my back, they said it was a team effort and Sami is an amazing player and the most I could do was annoy her and try to get in her lanes and make her shots tough."
The Rangers gave themselves Sunday night to celebrate their win but from Monday will turn their attentions to finding a way to conquer the Flames who have been the outstanding side in the WNBL since the Christmas break.
"I started crying on the bench and the girls were like "why are you crying?" and I didn't know," Clydesdale said.
"We have to focus as we have three games left but today we can enjoy this moment – it has been an up and down season so it's just awesome to do it with these girls."
Game one of the WNBL grand final series starts in Sydney on Friday night.