Spirit steps into Fire-tress

BEAT the league’s best on its court is the challenge Bendigo Spirit faces this Sunday to complete the fourteenth round of the Cygnett Women’s National Basketball League season.

After a break due to Olympic qualifiers, Spirit is back to play two road games in a four-day stretch.

Spirit was in Canberra for Thursday night’s showdown with the UCC Caps and then headed further north to play Townsville Fire.

It’s must-win for the fifth-placed Spirit, 9-9, to keep the heat on Melbourne Boomers and Sydney Flames, both 11-8, to stay in finals contention.

After a 10-point win against the Boomers at Red Energy Arena on January 30, Spirit star Kelsey Griffin said the team was not fazed by facing Fire in Townsville.

“They are the reigning champions and top of the ladder, but have been beaten at home,” Griffin said.

“To play finals and to win a championship you have massive challenges like this.”

Three of Fire’s defeats in a 13-5 run have been at home.

Fire won the previous clashes with Spirit by margins of 13 and 14 at Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena and The Arena in Geelong.

Griffin believes the Spirit is playing with a lot more confidence and poise since then.

A key for the Kennedy Kereama-coached Spirit is high defensive intensity in all quarters.

Spirit has the big-game experience of Griffin and Kelly Wilson teamed up with Ruth Davis, Alicia Froling, Mehryn Kraker, Abbey Wehrung, and Alex Wilson.

The Townsville and Bendigo match tips off at 4pm.