Spirit clip Flyers’ wings in Ballarat
Bendigo Spirit overcame a mighty scare from 2023/24 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) Champions, Southside Flyers, in Ballarat today, to cement their undefeated position atop the WNBL ladder.
Despite being down by as much as 17 points in the third quarter, the experience of the Spirit shone through in the second half, to see the ladder leaders notch their sixth win on the trot.
The Spirit decided to play it cautious in their team selection, with captain, Kelsey Griffin, and new recruit, Ash Hannan still unavailable for selection, as they continue their recovery from a fractured finger and concussion respectively. The Flyers were also down some personnel, with vice captain, Maddy Rocci, out with a hip injury.
With the Spirit’s home game in Ballarat coinciding with the League’s Indigenous Round, local Wadawurrung woman, Jenna Oldaker, commenced the Indigenous Round clash with a Welcome to Country in front of an appreciative crowd at Selkirk Stadium.
The game commenced in the script the Spirit have not seen so far this season – it took over a minute for the first score to register on the scoreboard, and when it did, it came from one of two free throws made by the opposition. Within this first 70 seconds of the game, Sami Whitcomb had already been checked for two personal fouls, with Coach Kennedy Kereama opting to not risk his star, subbing her out of the game for the remainder of the term.
Despite missing Whitcombe, the Spirit rallied, with strong defensive efforts from Veronica Burton and Marianna Tolo in particular in defence. A driving layup from Burton right on the quarter time buzzer would’ve tied everything up and the first break, but it rolled over the rim, giving Southside a narrow 18-16 lead at the first change.
Despite the Spirit’s never-say-die attitude, the second term was all about the Flyers – seemingly everything they touched turned to gold, and every shot the attempted was made. Whilst the Spirit were strong in defence, they struggled to make their shots, resulting in a 24-11 second term in favour of the Flyers, and a 15-point deficit at half time.
The Spirit were early out on court and raring to go at the start of the third term. Whilst the margin between the two sides got bigger before it got smaller, the Spirit patiently chipped away at the deficit, winning the term; 24-20, and bringing the margin down to 11 at the final change.
Whilst the visitors still had the lead, the momentum of the game was now with the Spirit, and the Ballarat crowd could feel it. The Spirit had grown adept to drawing the Flyers in to committing a foul, which not only frustrated them, but rewarded the Spirit on the scoreboard. However, the Spirit didn’t hit the front for the first time since the first quarter until there was just 2:44 left in the game, when Whitcomb sank one of her trademark three-point jump shots. Seconds later, a dramatic turn of events saw Southside’s star import, Naz Hillmon (17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists), forced to leave the court after receiving a technical foul, leaving Southside without arguably their best player of the day in the game’s crucial last minutes.
In the end, a layup from Tolo, followed by a series of free throws made by Whitcomb, Burton and Casey Samuels iced the game, with the Spirit dominating the quarter – 28-9 – and running out eight-point winners; 79-71.
Burton – who was on triple-double watch – was Player of the Game, finishing as the top-scorer on the court with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal, whilst Tolo recorded a double-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and a steal.
Abbey Wehrung (13 points, 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal) was again excellent off the bench, revelling in playing at the home of her junior association, whilst Kelly Wilson (5 points, 2 assists and a rebound) added a significant piece of Bendigo Spirit history to her already long list of career accolades, overtaking the great Gabe Richards (251 games) for the most games played for the Spirit, notching her 252nd outing in Spirit colours.
The Spirit will return to Bendigo next weekend to celebrate Indigenous Round in front of a Red Energy Arena home crowd, when the take on the UC Capitals.
Tip-off is at 7.30pm, which tickets available to purchase via Ticketek.