On May 2, 2026, the Ringwood Hawks delivered a statement performance on the road, defeating the Dandenong Rangers 95–90 in a thrilling NBL1 South contest. The match, held at Dandenong Stadium, was a back-and-forth affair that saw Ringwood seize control in the final quarter to snatch victory away from the home side.

Back-and-Forth Battle

The Rangers came out firing on their home floor, matching the Hawks basket for basket in the opening exchanges. Dandenong’s ability to score in transition kept the crowd engaged, but Ringwood’s disciplined half-court offense and timely three-point shooting allowed them to stay within striking distance throughout the first half. By the break, the score was tightly poised, with no team able to establish a lead larger than six points.

Ringwood’s Fourth-Quarter Surge

The pivotal moment arrived in the final period. After Dandenong built a slim 78–75 advantage with eight minutes remaining, Ringwood Hawks went on a decisive 14–4 run, fueled by aggressive drives to the rim and second-chance points. The Rangers fought back valiantly, cutting the deficit to two points inside the final minute, but Ringwood’s clutch free-throw shooting sealed the result. The Hawks converted 8 of 10 from the stripe in the closing stages, demonstrating composure under pressure.

Key Contributors

• Ringwood Hawks: The visitors received a balanced scoring effort, with four players reaching double figures. Their backcourt duo combined for 38 points and 10 assists, while the frontcourt controlled the glass with 12 offensive rebounds.
• Dandenong Rangers: The home team was led by a standout performance from their leading scorer, who poured in 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting. However, the Rangers struggled to contain Ringwood’s pick-and-roll offense in the decisive moments.

Season Impact

The victory improved Ringwood Hawks’ record to 6–3 for the season, solidifying their position in the upper half of the NBL1 South standings. For Dandenong Rangers, the loss dropped them to 4–5, leaving them in a crowded mid-table battle. This result also marked the Hawks’ second consecutive road win, suggesting growing momentum as the season approaches its midpoint. On the other hand, the Rangers will need to address defensive lapses in crunch time if they hope to climb back into playoff contention.