Ranger Ryan Ready To Reap Road Reward

The Age

Friday February 2, 2007

STEPHEN HOWELL

SNEAKING into the Women's National Basketball League finals feels like having won the grand final, according to Dandenong Rangers co-captain Caitlin Ryan. Having won championships in 2004 and 2005, Ryan and the Rangers would know.

And now they are there - making it in the final round after a horror start to the season - the Rangers will be disappointed not to go further. For their own satisfaction, and not to give any to those who might say they have gone as far as they deserve!

They play Adelaide Lightning in the knockout minor semi-final in Adelaide tonight, and it was the Lightning they struck last week to push Bulleen Boomers from fourth place. With no fear of playing on the road and with confidence gained by beating the other finalists this season, Rangers' hopes are not unrealistic.

Ryan, 25, can take considerable credit for the rebirth after Dandenong lost key players in the off-season and stumbled through early losses with injured players, including co-captain Sam Richards.

Relishing a leadership role after three seasons, Ryan showed teammates how to step up to centre court - her averages have gone from 5.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists to 14.3, 2.9 and 2.9.

Ryan's explanation is simple: "I've gone from playing 18-19 minutes to 35 minutes a game. I've got double the time to get double the number of shots off."

There is more, of course, including the Rangers, minus Jacinta Hamilton, Emma Randall and Carly Wilson, becoming a more perimeter-oriented team.

That suits Ryan to a tee, although the long bomber worked hard in the off-season to add more substance to her offence by putting the ball on the floor and penetrating.

And when the Rangers got together in the pre-season she took to heart the leadership role and coach Gary Fox's call to step up.

The other Ranger to have stepped out of the shadow is future Opal Jenna O'Hea, who at 19 and in her second season at Dandenong after two at the Australian Institute of Sport, has become the main focus of the offence.

"We knew what she was capable of," Ryan said. "But last season, she was playing behind Opals and there was no room.

"The concern is lack of finals experience, but she had 23 against Adelaide last week and that was like a final."

This is a final, and Ryan's Rangers are out to lasso it.

Sydney Flames, at home, are favoured to win the major semi-final, also tonight, and go straight into the grand final in a fortnight.

THE WNBL FINALS

Minor semi-final: Adelaide Lightning (third, 15-6) v Dandenong Rangers (fourth, 12-9 ), tonight in Adelaide (live ABC2 8pm)

Major semi-final: Sydney Flames (first, 16-5) v Canberra Capitals (second, 15-6), tonight in Sydney (delayed ABC2 10pm)

Preliminary final: Major loser v minor winner, February 10, on major loser's court.

Grand final: Major winner v preliminary winner, February 17, on major winner's court.

© 2007 The Age

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