Spirit survive Lightning scare to secure top two

25 January 2025 | Bendigo Spirit news

The top-of-the-table Bendigo Spirit have survived an almighty scare from the seventh-placed Adelaide Lightning, getting over the line by six points at a packed Red Energy Arena.

In front of the biggest Bendigo crowd of the season so far, both teams had a lot to play for: a win for the Spirit would guarantee them a top-two spot – a huge advantage heading into the playoffs – whilst the Lightning are still fighting for the League’s remaining finals spot.

In what was a defensive game throughout, the game got off to a regulation start for season 2024/25, with the Spirit jumping out to an early nine-point lead after a 20-14 first quarter.  However, the Lightning were not going to be intimidated, totally flipping the script in the second term, winning it 20-14, meaning the Spirit had just a slender three-point lead at the main break.

Abbey Wehrung, Veronica Burton, Marianna Tolo and Sami Whitcomb all had good looks at the basket in the second term but couldn’t sink their shots.  It was Spirit captain, Kelsey Griffin, who stood up to keep her side in it, going on to score another double-double in back-to-back Player of the Game performances (19 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal).

The Spirit narrowly won the third term – 18-17 – and an uncharacteristically low-scoring final term – 13-11 – to run out 65-59 winners.

Spirit head coach, Kennedy Kereama, paid all credit to Adelaide for the tough match.

“They made the game really difficult for us in a number of ways.  At different times they put us in two minds about a lot of things…things we’re usually pretty good at.  For the most part, we did a good job at different times finding ways through, we just couldn’t get enough momentum down the offensive end.

“I thought defensively – well, keeping a team to anything under 60 or even anything under 70 is great defensively – but the challenge and opportunity with our group is that I still believe we can be so much better,” Kereama continued.

Griffin was the top-scorer on the court, followed by Whitcomb (16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals) and the Lightning’s Isobel Borlase (16 points, 6 rebounds, an assist and a block).

The Spirit now look ahead to Round 14, when they will again take on Geelong United at Geelong Arena – but this time, as the away side.

The match will get the round underway on Wednesday night, with tip-off at 7pm AEDT.