TOP teams are forced to take Rush seriously now.
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A slightly sloppy Rush start allowed Dandenong to push to a 10-point lead to quarter-time but Rush finished only 16 points short of the South East Australian Basketball League powerhouse on Sunday.
Dandenong was close to full-strength for its fifth-straight win. Shanae Greaves kept the decorated Jacinta Kennedy to 16 points while four Harvey Norman Ballarat Rush teammates scored in double figures.
Rush made 25 turnovers, mostly unforced passing errors, but defensively Rush was real solid and denied the Rangers a chance to punish them.
While a win would have been sweeter, Rush coach Peter Cunningham said his players were not completely disappointed – they had challenged a benchmark that had crushed rivals Geelong and Nunawading.
“We pushed and fought hard and contested everything,” Cunningham said. “The difference was they finished off their work. We were down four points at one stage and missed a lay-up. It was a great contest that helps them for finals.
“We earned a bit of respect out there.”
Kasey Burton set the Rush tone for intensity, her aggression and tenacious defence was impressive. Rush captain Abbey Wherung shot well with 23 points, nailing five shots beyond the arc. The team still found space to give youth leagers Claire Constable and Eliza Roughead a taste of the action.