BENDIGO Spirit will target a hat-trick of victories when it plays Southside Flyers in this Saturday night\u2019s Cygnett Women\u2019s National Basketball League match.<\/p>\n
After a 0-4 start, Bendigo is now 2-4 in a regular season of 21 matches.<\/p>\n
The squad\u2019s fighting quality was to the fore in the latest hit-out with Adelaide Lightning.<\/p>\n
Spirit led by 12 points going into the final term on Adelaide\u2019s court.<\/p>\n
Lightning won the last, 22-10, but Bendigo ruled overtime, 10-5, to seal a 70-65 victory.<\/p>\n
Strong defensive efforts again played a crucial part in Spirit\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really proud of the team\u2019s defensive work,\u201d said Bendigo coach Kennedy Kereama.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe past two matches a big focus was on defence and limiting the amount of times we put teams on the free-throw line.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone in the squad has been really disciplined in defence,\u201d he said of the hard-fought wins against Sydney and then Adelaide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will need to up the defensive play against Southside.\u201d<\/p>\n
A talented Flyers squad won its latest match against UC Capitals by 17 points.<\/p>\n
Southside\u2019s stars were Mercedes Russell, 21 points and 11 rebounds; Bec Cole, 17 points; and Jasmine Dickey, 10 points.<\/p>\n
The Flyers squad also includes the legendary centre Lauren Jackson, a four-time Olympian, four-time WNBL most valuable player, five-time WNBL championship winner, and Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n
Southside also has brilliant guard Leilani Mitchell.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are a quality line-up,\u201d Kereama said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a matter of focus on one or two players. They have plenty who can hurt you at either end of the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same applies for a Spirit team which had an even spread across scoring and rebounding against Adelaide.<\/p>\n
Despite a knock to the face against Lightning, Spirit captain Kelsey Griffin will be right to take on the Flyers from 7pm at the State Basketball Centre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BENDIGO Spirit will target a hat-trick of victories when it plays Southside Flyers in this Saturday night\u2019s Cygnett Women\u2019s National Basketball League match. After a 0-4 start, Bendigo is now 2-4 in a regular season of 21 matches. The squad\u2019s fighting quality was to the fore in the latest hit-out with Adelaide Lightning. Spirit led […]<\/p>\n