Star-studded Spirit takes on Lightning

A NEW-look Bendigo Spirit is at home when it tips off its Cygnett Women’s National Basketball League season against Adelaide Lightning this Saturday night.

The showdown between Bendigo and Adelaide will be played from 7.30pm at Red Energy Arena in West Bendigo.

Spirit will be banking on a big turn-out of fans to pack the stadium and to watch the exploits of Bendigo’s stars and Lightning young gun Izzy Borlase.

Bendigo’s lucrative recruiting campaign landed Paris Olympic team-mates Marianna Tolo and Sami Whitcomb to join forces in the Kennedy Kereama-coached squad.

Spirit also gained Veronica Burton from Connecticut Suns.

After narrowly missing last season’s play-offs, expectations are high Spirit will be a strong contender to again be crowned number one.

Bendigo has not featured in the finals since 2014-15.

As centre and point guard respectively, Tolo and Whitcomb played crucial roles as the Opals claimed bronze at this year’s Olympics in France.

Both bring plenty of skill to the Spirit squad.

Tolo will be aiming to add to her tally of three WNBL championship wins.

Spirit’s team will again feature the brilliant Kelsey Griffin and WNBL games record-holder Kelly Wilson who passed the 450-mark last season.

They are two of the best in Spirit’s and the league’s history.

Among the many highs of their careers were Bendigo’s WNBL championship victories of 2012-13 and 2013-14 in the Bernie Harrower-coached era.

Among the highlights of this season’s WNBL action will be Bendigo and Australian Opals legendary guard Kristi Harrower moving up to coach reigning champion Southside Flyers.

The Flyers and last season’s runner-up, Perth Lynx are two franchises standing in the way of Bendigo’s charge to claim the title.

Saturday night’s match is the first of what will be thousands of steps the Spirit must take to reach the top once again.

Bendigo Spirit’s Richard Simkiss and Stearn’s Showcase’s Rick Stearn also presented Marianna Tolo with her new uniform at the club’s season launch.