A TREK to Perth for Friday night\u2019s clash with Lynx tips off a crucial third round for Bendigo Spirit in the Cygnett Women\u2019s National Basketball League.<\/p>\n
After a nil-two start, Bendigo\u2019s team meets a red-hot Lynx on its court in Perth and then returns for Sunday\u2019s clash with Melbourne Boomers at Parkville.<\/p>\n
Spirit coach Kennedy Kereama said despite a winless start there were plenty of positives from the game played against Sydney Flames in Mildura last Friday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe improved significantly on our first week,\u201d he said. \u201cAreas we focused on such as limiting turnovers was excellent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spirit had just one turnover in the second half of the clash with Sydney.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did a lot of things well, but our shooting really let us down,\u201d Kereama said of a field goal return of 33 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cA percentage of less than 45 is far from desirable,\u201d he said of the 62-68 result against the Flames.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe effort is there, but we need to reward that effort by scoring points.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough it\u2019s two losses [Townsville and Sydney], neither game was a blowout. The girls also showed they up for the fight, especially from being down by 15 points at half-time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kereama said Spirit\u2019s play to limit Sydney to a tally of 68 points was excellent.<\/p>\n
Bendigo won the rebounding duels, 38-36, but it was from the three-point are and foul line where Spirit was found wanting at times.<\/p>\n
Spirit\u2019s clash with Sydney drew 780 fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stadium was packed and the crowd support was incredible,\u201d said Spirit\u2019s coach.<\/p>\n
Now Spirit takes on a Perth line-up which has won both of its matches and is second on the ladder.<\/p>\n
A three-nil start has Melbourne Boomers on top of the table going into week three of the season.<\/p>\n
A huge plus for Bendigo is the likely return of captain and four-time WNBL championship winner Kelsey Griffin who was on the sidelines the opening two matches recovering from a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n
For Spirit it\u2019s about work rate and shooting for the net with more confidence and purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of basketball to be played,\u201d Kereama said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A TREK to Perth for Friday night\u2019s clash with Lynx tips off a crucial third round for Bendigo Spirit in the Cygnett Women\u2019s National Basketball League. After a nil-two start, Bendigo\u2019s team meets a red-hot Lynx on its court in Perth and then returns for Sunday\u2019s clash with Melbourne Boomers at Parkville. Spirit coach Kennedy […]<\/p>\n