Spirit trounce Flyers to win final regular season home game

3 February 2025 | Bendigo Spirit news

Bendigo Spirit have wrapped up their 2024/25 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) regular season home games with a win, demolishing last year’s Champions, the Southside Flyers, by 19 points at Red Energy Arena.

Having already secured top spot on the ladder after Wednesday’s away win over Geelong, the Spirit had two key agenda items for this match – prepare for the playoffs, whilst managing minutes of key personnel.

Having lost their last match up against the Flyers right before Christmas, the Spirit were not prepared to risk that happening again, and burst out of the blocks led by none other than Sami Whitcomb.  Although the Flyers secured the first points of the match – a three sunk by Maddi Rocci – from that point on it was all the Spirit.  By quarter time the Spirit already had an eight-point lead (30-22), with 15 of those points beside Whitcomb’s name.

It was more of the same in the second term, which the Spirit also won by eight points (21-13), extending their lead at the main break to 16 (51-35).  Whilst the scoring was slightly less free-flowing than the first term, Whitcomb still managed to bring her personal three-pointer tally to six by the main break, leaving the Flyers in her wake.

Despite a bad turnover from the Spirit to start the quarter, the Flyers couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard, signally that the second half would be a fait accompli.  Having done the majority of the damage in the first half, the Spirit continued to build their lead by winning the third quarter 25-13, extending their overall lead to 76-48 at the final change – a near game-high 28 points.

As we have seen multiple times this season, with the game iced, the Spirit took their foot off the gas in the final term, which the Flyers won, 25-16.  Spirit head coach, Kennedy Kereama, again expertly managed his list, providing vital minutes to his bench players ahead of what is sure to be an intense finals series.  The final score read 92-73, in favour of the Spirit.

Yet again, Whitcomb was unsurprisingly named Player of the Game, finishing with her stat sheet reading 33 points (including eight 3-pointers made), 6 steals, 3 assists and 3 rebounds.

Marianna Tolo was also excellent for the Spirit and oh-so-close to a double-double, notching 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

Naz Hillmon and Dallas Loughridge were excellent for the Flyers in defeat, scoring 22 and 21 points respectively.

The win also means that the Spirit have won their splits (best of three matches) against every team in the League, with one game left in the regular season.

After a hectic schedule, the Spirit will now enjoy a round off, before they travel to Canberra for their final away trip of the regular season to face the UC Capitals in Round 16.

Tip-off for the match on Saturday 15 February will be at 3.30pm AEDT, with the game to be broadcast on 9Now.