Dandenong might sit 12th on the NBL1 South ladder with a 7-8 win-loss record, but Hoop City Geelong United Supercats women’s coach Matt Paton is well aware of the challenge the Rangers will present on Saturday night.
The Rangers have won three of their last four to vault back into finals contention.
“They boast a couple of positions that have presented us with some difficulty throughout the season,” Coach Paton said.
“(They have) some genuine size inside. Sarah Booth (14.6ppg, 7.8rpg) is 195cm and has to be addressed.
“She’s an inside-outside threat. I think we can match her for strength, but her size and length will be our challenge.
“And an up-and-coming star like Nyadiew Puoch (23.5ppg, 7.2rpg), her athleticism and length, and the volume with which she scores, will keep us on our toes.”
NBL1 MEN | UNITED ENTERS “MUST-WIN” TERRITORY
Despite sitting fifth with a 9-4 win-loss record, second spot remains alive for Geelong United following consecutive losses by second-placed Waverley Falcons (11-3).
However, that means nothing if the Supercats can’t take care of the Rangers on Saturday night.
“Being closer to the top than the bottom of the table can psychologically mess with you a little bit because you are playing the majority of your games against teams that are lower on the ladder than you,” Paton said.
“From a mental standpoint, we know everyone in the league, on their day, can win a game.
“And the nature of the timing of the league this year means teams up until this round have continued to add players to make a run in the back end of the season.
“A team that you saw on paper in April is probably very different to what is stepping out on the court in mid-June.”
Tickets for Saturday night’s Roderick Insurance Brokers Game Night are selling fast and available now at https://bit.ly/3JspNN5.
