A BRILLIANT season by Bendigo Spirit\u2019s Sami Whitcomb has earnt the Cygnett Women\u2019s National Basketball League\u2019s Most Valuable Player award.<\/p>\n
Whitcomb claimed the Suzy Batkovic Medal in a season where Spirit achieved a win-loss tally of 18-3 and finished the regular season on top of the ladder.<\/p>\n
More importantly for Whitcomb is to claim her first WNBL championship trophy.<\/p>\n
Spirit\u2019s semi-finals campaign against Sydney Flames tips off this Sunday at Bendigo\u2019s Red Energy Arena at 3.30pm.<\/p>\n
The Kennedy Kereama-coached Spirit will be determined to make a winning start to the best-of-three series.<\/p>\n
The league\u2019s leading scorer on 440 points, Whitcomb averaged 21 points, 6.3 rebounds and five assists per game.<\/p>\n
Her play earnt selection in the First All-Star team.<\/p>\n
Awards night was not all Whitcomb as Spirit team-mates Veronica Burton, Kelsey Griffin and Casey Samuels all earnt honours.<\/p>\n
Dynamic play and defensive intensity by Burton caught the eye of selectors and a place in the Second All Star team along with Griffin.<\/p>\n
In her first WNBL season, Burton has averaged more than 15 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.<\/p>\n
Sidelined for the opening six matches because of a finger injury, Griffin won 154 rebounds across the season and averaged more than 13 points per game.<\/p>\n
A four-time WNBL championship winner, two with Bendigo and two with Canberra, Griffin will play a crucial role in the quest for the 2024-25 title.<\/p>\n
The consistency of Abbey Wehrung to average 8.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game earnt the League\u2019s Sixth Woman of the Year award.<\/p>\n
Bendigo Spirit general manager Dan Jackson said the club was rapt with the team\u2019s feats against high-quality competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly proud of Sami, Veronica, Kelsey and Abbey on their well-deserved, League-wide recognition,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe awards are also recognition of the hard work and dedication by their team-mates, coaching and high performance staff to achieve the success we have so far.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bendigo Spirit\u2019s club awards night will be held this Thursday at The Sporting Globe in Bull Street.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A BRILLIANT season by Bendigo Spirit\u2019s Sami Whitcomb has earnt the Cygnett Women\u2019s National Basketball League\u2019s Most Valuable Player award. Whitcomb claimed the Suzy Batkovic Medal in a season where Spirit achieved a win-loss tally of 18-3 and finished the regular season on top of the ladder. More importantly for Whitcomb is to claim her […]<\/p>\n