STARTING as a sound cohesive unit, Rush players stuck together to grit out this game.
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Dandenong’s depth, experience and extra fresh legs wore Ballarat Rush down, 79-54, in South East Australian Basketball League action on Saturday night.
But Harvey Norman Rush looked and worked more like a team at the MARS Minerdome than it has for most of this season.
Rush led at quarter-time and kept it close, down by eight points by the half, before losing grip.
Importantly, Rush coach Peter Cunningham said players remained focused on working to team targets.
“I’m pleased, but I’m not pleased. It’s still hard when it’s a loss,” Cunningham said.
“They did well in areas we asked them to be working on and we stayed together, played as a unit and worked hard to half-time.
“... We grew tired, a little lazy and lost a little confidence, but our body language was better and our enthusiasm was much better.”
Rush co-captain Kristy Rinaldi was in stellar form in a game that equalled the club women’s SEABL game record – her 223rd game for Ballarat.
Rinaldi set the tone with a team-high 17 points, including three from beyond the arc, with seven rebounds.
The relentless Shanae Greaves (12 points, seven rebounds) was named Rush’s most valuable player. Greaves’ influence was pivotal, most telling when she was rested and her strong inside presence was sorely missing.
Rush ran into foul trouble, which caused the most havoc in its game.
Greaves, co-captain Abbey Wehrung and in-form tall Molly Mathews each had three fouls to half-time.
Rush had chalked up 14 fouls to the Rangers’ six going into the fourth quarter, crippling Rush’s attempts to work back into the game. The count evened up in the final term but the damage was done.
The Rangers locked down on Rush defensively, restricting Rush to 19 points in the second half and gradually taking control on the boards.
Promoted youth leaguer Eliza Roughead was handy off the bench with Mathews, who continues to build solid minutes.
Both gained valuable experience against a decorated Rangers line-up that included former Australian Opal Jacinta Kennedy (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Women’s National Basketball League championship player Clare Papavs (19 points, 14 rebounds), who each played starring roles in the opening half.
Melbourne Boomers WNBL coach Guy Molloy is set to lead the Rush training on Tuesday night. Molloy is a former Ballarat Miners and elite programs coach.
Cunningham said it was important his players keep developing and stepping up their game.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au