STAR guard Austin Kirikiri has led the Dandenong Rangers to a 15-point win over the Eltham Wildcats when the two sides went head to head in Round 4 of the VJBL U18 Boys VC Championship division over the weekend.

The Rangers had been one of the form teams of the newly formed VC Championship competition over the first three weeks, winning two of their first three games, while the Wildcats were still searching for their first win in the new format.

Dandenong was able to build on a strong start at Dandenong Stadium on Friday night, cruising home to a comfortable 15-point victory to remain among the contenders after four weeks of play.

Dandenong Rangers (71) def. Eltham Wildcats (56)

Eltham’s Bodhi Stratford opened proceedings with a long-range bomb to register the first score of the match, but it was largely Rangers from there. Dandenong was finding plenty of success scoring the ball inside, and went on a 17-5 run to close out the term (capped off by a triple to Boris Rosner) to take a 12-point buffer into the first change.

The Wildcats started the second term in promising fashion, staying in the hunt by keeping the margin around 10 points for the first half of the frame. It was enough to suggest the game was not over yet, but the Rangers snatched control in the closing minutes of the half, leading by 17 at the main break and making the equation much trickier for the visitors.

Eltham again looked much better coming out of half-time, with Stratford nailing another triple to open proceedings and the margin being cut down to just nine points in seemingly no time at all. From there, it was back and forth action as the two sides traded baskets and at the final change, the Wildcats’ deficit was cut down to just 11 points.

A 9-1 run to open the fourth quarter was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Rangers, pushing the margin out to a game-high 20 points and slamming the door shut on any sort of a comeback. The Wildcats tried to respond, but the damage was already done as the home side cruised home to a hefty win.

Kirikiri was the star of the show for the Rangers, which is becoming a familiar pattern, posting 26 points in the win and proving why he is still one of the best guards in the VJBL. He nailed some crucial baskets down the stretch and was vital in getting Dandenong to its third victory.

Also impressing for the Rangers was Resner, who posted 18 points in an eye-catching display of his own, while Micah Livingstone chimed in with 12 points in a solid outing as Dandenong demonstrated just how balanced its roster is.

Luca Spadafora was the standout for the Wildcats despite the result, producing 17 points in the loss, while Ryder Cleary had 12 points as well in a gutsy display in enemy territory.

ACROSS THE COURTS

The Sandringham Sabres got the job done over the Nunawading Spectres in a thrilling clash on Friday night, holding on for a five-point win at home, despite missing star guard Max Pavey in an encouraging result.

The Knox Raiders got the job done in enemy territory on Friday night as well, claiming a 17-point win over the Keilor Thunder at Keilor Stadium, slamming the door shut with a 21-12 final quarter to emphatically seal the result.

Geelong United defeated the Kilsyth Cobras by forfeit.