Spirit debut new-look roster with a win
After a productive off-season of recruitment, Bendigo Spirit launched their 24/25 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) with a statement win at home on Saturday night, defeating Adelaide Lightning, 84-70.
Unfortunately, the Spirit’s weekend didn’t get off to an ideal start, when it was revealed that captain, Kelsey Griffin, and new recruit, Ashlee Hannan, would miss the season opener due to injury. The ledger was slightly levelled however, with Lightning captain, Steph Talbot, also ruled out of the clash.
In the first quarter, Spirit’s star off-season recruit and stand-in captain, Sami Whitcomb, show the home fans what they’ll be in for this season, top-scoring with 9 points, closely followed by fellow new recruit and Australian Opal, Marianna Tolo with 8. The Spirit’s new US import, Veronica Burton, also impressed early, with a strong defensive start, notching 5 rebounds and also collecting a couple of baskets for the quarter.
However, arguably the highlight of the first term was when 18-year-old Year 12 student, Asha Nightingale, took to the court for her first WNBL minutes, sinking a basket on her first attempt, enticing both the bench and the crowd up on their feet.
The Lightning closed in during the second quarter, taking a slim lead before the Spirit clawed their way back to level the score. New import, Japreece Dean, was everywhere for the visitors, leading their offensive stats. A timely three-pointer from Whitcomb with a minute remaining in the half injected the energy back into the arena. The roof threated to lift-off less than a minute later when Burton sunk another three-pointer with 0.9 seconds to go in the term, however, it was unfortunately disallowed.
Momentum favoured the Spirit in the third quarter, but a late layup from Lightning young gun, Isobel Borlase, narrowed the deficit to just two points, setting up a tense final quarter.
The physicality of the game jumped up a notch in the final term, leading to an array of personal fouls. However, when Whitcomb was subbed back onto the court with five minutes to go and immediately sunk a three-pointer, it was all Spirit from thereon in. Tolo’s outstanding defensive play and double-double (14 rebounds, 12 points), along with Whitcomb’s game-high 27 points, secured the Spirit an 84-70 victory.
In the absence of Griffin, Casey Samuels was also huge for the home team, notching 21 points of her own.
“I think Casey is an incredibly underrated, gritty, tough player,” Spirit Head Coach, Kennedy Kereama said of Samuels in the post-match media conference. “What I was most impressed with tonight was her ability to rebound, block out and make space on the floor and shoot. She’s another player with 150+ games experience and she’s certainly been around for a long time now and we’ve been fortunate enough to get some really great basketball out of her, [but] I think her best is still ahead of her.”
Next up, Spirit will travel to Canberra to face the UC Capitals, next Friday 8 November. Tip-off will be at 6.30pm, with the game available to watch on 9NOW.