Bendigo primed for ultimate challenge

The Spirit are welcoming the biggest test in the Chemist Warehouse WNBL when Round 3 continues on Saturday night in Townsville.

The Villawood Properties Bendigo Spirit may be winless but were impressive and brave in a narrow-loss to Adelaide Lightning on Wednesday and now get the chance to come up against a red-hot UC Capitals outfit.

Spirit coach Tracy York says the game is a great opportunity for her young side to test themselves against the reigning two-time champs.

The teams last met on November 16 with Canberra prevailing, 76-56.

“We’re looking forward to it, we know Canberra are the measuring stick so it will be good for us to hopefully have improved since we played them a week and a half ago,’’ York said.

Bendigo suffered a 99-51 defeat to the Townsville Fire on Tuesday but showed great fight and character just 24 hours later, fall 6 points short of the Lightning.

It was a display which pleased the coach.

“The response on Wednesday night, to how we played Tuesday, was fantastic and while clearly we wanted to win, we made huge strides forward in that game against Adelaide because they obviously came out wanting to have a much better game than the night before as well,’’ York said.

“For us, Demi Skinner stepped up, it was the best scoring game I’ve ever seen our captain Tessa Lavey (33 points) play, we had a couple more scoring avenues and in parts we played better defence.

“It’s a process with a younger team.”

Meanwhile, Canberra notched its sixth win on the trot in Cairns on Thursday night with a come-from-behind victory over Perth Lynx.

Guard Maddi Rocci said the Caps are aiming to build on crucial momentum.

“There’s games where we’ve had slow starts but I think having some wins under our belt now we head to Townsville, after games in Mackay and Cairns, will give us some confidence,’’ she said.

“There’s a few things we need to fix up, offensively and defensively, and we’ll be looking to tidy them up against Bendigo.

“Every game is super tough and we don’t look at teams and their wins and losses we approach every game as a must win. Bendigo are going to be tough and we’re looking forward to the match-up.”

Megan Hustwaite is a freelance contributor to WNBL.basketball

Broadcast Details
Villawood Properties Bendigo Spirit vs UC Capitals
Saturday November 28 2020
6.30pm AEST / 7.30pm AEDT
LIVE on Kayo