Grand final tied up

By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG’S domination of the Basketball Victoria Development League (BVDL) has ensured both of the Rangers teams will lace up the boots for grand finals this weekend.
Dandenong Rangers BVDL men secured their grand final spot with a 93-77 win over Kilsyth.
Calvin Enge and Garry Dukes sunk buckets from everywhere, scoring 27 and 21 points respectively, while Dieuson Biyendolo (11 points, six rebounds) and Kayne Ewin (nine points, eight rebounds) also stood out in the victory.
“In the first half our players just didn’t have trust for one another,” Dandenong coach Duncan Berg said.
“They were helping too much, which left too many players open.
“We noticed that midway through the second quarter and adjusted.
“Calvin Enge was our leading scorer with 27 points – he was probably our best player but Garry (Dukes) was very good, too.”
Berg has one aim for Sunday afternoon’s grand final and it hasn’t waivered all season.
“We expect to win – that’s been our whole focus at training,” Berg said.
“We’ve played (Sandringham) three times this season and won all three, but they beat Knox in the semi final and they hadn’t beaten them before that this season.
“Sandringham won’t just roll over so we expect a tight, tough match.”
Dandenong’s BVDL women’s team sent last year’s grand finalist Knox home a tad embarrassed after the Rangers smashed home a 73-43 win.
From limited minutes, Dandenong’s centre pair Amanda Meinking (13 points) and Jacinta Vandenberg (12 points, 11 rebounds), was too tall and too skilful for the Raiders to match up against. Briahna Whatman (10 points, seven rebounds) guided traffic all night with great aplomb.
“I was really pleased with the way the team performed against Knox,” Rangers womens coach Paul Flynn said.
“Defensively we were relentless and played with the level of hunger you’d expect in finals basketball.
“We’re quite conscious that it’s just the first step and that there is plenty of work to do if we’re to walk into Nunawading on Saturday and take away the championship.”
For back-to-back titles, the Rangers women have to beat the Spectres at home, something not achieved this season by any other team.
“Nunawading Stadium is a fortress,” Flynn said.
“The Spectres haven’t lost at home all season, so for us to win back-to-back championships we are going to have to fire on all cylinders and do something no one else has in 2012.”
The women square off in the first grand final against Nunawading at Nunawading Stadium on Saturday night at 7pm and the men play at home against Sandringham on Sunday afternoon at 1pm.