{"id":102543,"date":"2025-02-21T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bendigotimes\/?p=102543"},"modified":"2025-02-21T13:34:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T02:34:29","slug":"intensitys-up-as-finals-tip-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bendigotimes\/sport\/intensitys-up-as-finals-tip-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Intensity’s up as finals tip off"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE intensity will be high as Bendigo Spirit and the Sydney Flames make long-awaited returns to the Cygnett Women’s National Basketball League finals series this Sunday.<\/p>\n

Game one in a best-of-three semi-final duel between the teams tips off at Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena at 3.30pm.<\/p>\n

After finishing the regular season with an 18-3 record and on top of the ladder, Spirit will be aiming to make a hot start on its court in West Bendigo.<\/p>\n

The Kennedy Kereama-coached Spirit won all three clashes with Sydney in the run to the play-offs by margins of 19, 15 and 18 points.<\/p>\n

Expectations and pressure go up a notch as Bendigo and Sydney strive to reach the season decider.<\/p>\n

Spirit’s winning streak of nine matches was broken in a 83-74 loss to Canberra Capitals on the AIS court last Saturday night.<\/p>\n

The Bendigo squad could not halt a Jade Melbourne-inspired Capitals as the brilliant guard scored 40 points, won 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists.<\/p>\n

Bendigo’s best was Veronica Burton on 29 points and seven assists.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The brilliant Sami Whitcomb charges down the Red Energy Arena showcourt.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now the focus is on the Guy Molloy-coached Flames, who will be aiming to strike back from consecutive defeats in the final round.<\/p>\n

Spirit brings plenty of big game experience to the court \u2013 Sami Whitcomb and Marianna Tolo joined Spirit not long after the Opals teammates won bronze at the Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n

An outstanding record for Whitcomb includes two WNBA championships in the United States with Seattle Storm.<\/p>\n

Tolo is a three-time WNBL championship winner and her rebounding ability has played a big part in Spirit’s run to the play-offs for the first time since 2014-15.<\/p>\n

Stars in Spirit’s run to WNBL titles in 2013 and 2014, Kelsey Griffin and Kelly Wilson are still having a major impact. The Flames may have gun centre Cayla George back on court after being sidelined by an ankle injury.<\/p>\n

Game two in the semi-final series between Bendigo and Sydney will be on the Flames court on 27 February from 7pm at Quaycentre. A third match, if required, will be on 2 March from 2.30pm at Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena.<\/p>\n

More info and tickets visit Bendigo Spirit website.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE intensity will be high as Bendigo Spirit and the Sydney Flames make long-awaited returns to the Cygnett Women’s National Basketball League finals series this Sunday. Game one in a best-of-three semi-final duel between the teams tips off at Bendigo’s Red Energy Arena at 3.30pm. After finishing the regular season with an 18-3 record and […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":102547,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-102543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIntensity's up as finals tip off - Bendigo Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Bendigo Spirit face the Sydney Flames in an intense WNBL semi-final at Red Energy Arena. 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