KG only going to get better after stunning comeback: Kereama

Bendigo Spirit head coach Kennedy Kereama has declared skipper Kelsey Griffin is only going to keep getting better after her stunning injury return on Sunday.

Griffin nearly led the Spirit to their first win of the Women’s National Basketball League season against Melbourne Boomers on the road, scoring a career-high 33 points in her long-awaited comeback from a hamstring issue.

As Bendigo prepare to take on Sydney Flames for the second time this campaign, this time at Red Energy Arena on Saturday, Kereama said Griffin’s best was yet to come.

“She doesn’t take any pride in those numbers in a losing game,” Kereama, who is coaching his 100th WNBL game on Saturday, said.

“It was a very good performance, and a combination of work and time she puts into her craft.

“She’s only going to get better. If that’s a sign of what we can expect on a regular basis, it’s really exciting.”

Kereama has called on the Spirit to be better with foul discipline after giving up a 12-point three-quarter time lead against the Boomers last weekend in what he described as a “gut-wrenching loss”.

“We’re ranked second in the league for most fouls committed,” Kereama said.

“We can’t be sending teams to the foul line as much as we do, it’s an area we need to tighten up.”

Kereama feels this weekend’s clash with be an evenly-matched contest between two similar outfits.

“There’s a lot of common ground between our teams,” he explained.

“We’ve got similar pace, similar shooting. They’ve named Tess Madgen this week, she’s a great player who creates some challenges.”

GAME DETAILS

Spirit v Flames

Red Energy Arena, Bendigo

Saturday, November 25

Tip-off at 6.30pm EDT

INJURY LIST

Sophia Locandro: Hamstring, return date TBA

Ella Gordon: Back, return date TBA

SPIRIT ROSTER

You can view the Spirit’s 2023-24 playing roster here

SEASON FIXTURES

You can view the Spirit’s 2023-24 season fixture here

HOW TO WATCH

All games will again be broadcast live, with Wednesday night games (and all finals games) on ESPN (Foxtel, KAYO and Sky Sports NZ), while all other games will be shown on the Nine Network’s free digital channel, 9Now. Internationally all games will be broadcast live on FIBA YouTube.