AS she approaches her four-hundred and fifty-second match in Women\u2019s National Basketball League action, Kelly Wilson does not want Bendigo Spirit\u2019s surge to stop.<\/p>\n
Spirit fans are being urged to pack Red Energy Arena this Saturday night for a huge showdown with Perth Lynx.<\/p>\n
A special promotion to celebrate Wilson\u2019s record 450th WNBL match which she played on Canberra\u2019s court last Thursday includes free entry for children to the Spirit and Lynx contest.<\/p>\n
Bendigo\u2019s team rides a five-game winning streak in to the last round of the regular season.<\/p>\n
An 11-9 record has Spirit in third place.<\/p>\n
Beat Lynx and Spirit is into the play-offs.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a \u201cmust win\u201d scenario for Wilson and her team-mates for many weeks in the Cygnett-backed Women\u2019s National Basketball League season.<\/p>\n
A 93-60 victory against reigning champions and ladder-leading Townsville last Sunday was clearly Spirit\u2019s best result so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be in the finals is why we all play the game,\u201d Wilson said. \u00a0\u201cWe are playing with confidence and the momentum has kept building each game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two of the club\u2019s and league\u2019s finest players, Wilson and Kelsey Griffin chalked up milestones as Spirit took on Canberra last Thursday.<\/p>\n
On a night where Wilson played game 450, Griffin lined up for game 150 in Spirit colours and also passed the 3500-points mark.<\/p>\n
The Spirit stars are four-time WNBL champions whose experience and skill has played a big part in Spirit\u2019s resurgence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was not the best start [0-4], but we have kept working incredibly hard,\u201d Wilson said of this season\u2019s run.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn any season there will be highs and lows.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying Fire at Townsville was always going to be a tough match.\u201d<\/p>\n
Belief within the group it could upset Fire was high.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mindset was a win in Townsville was achievable, but we would have to work really hard to do so,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
The Kennedy Kereama-coached Spirit won every quarter against the Fire.<\/p>\n
More importantly was the spread of contributions, not just in points, but rebounds, assists, and defensive acts.<\/p>\n
Spirit\u2019s late-season surge began with a 21-point win on Perth\u2019s court.<\/p>\n
It was a few days after a 21-point loss to Southside Flyers in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouthside\u2019s a great team, but we did not play the type of basketball we are capable of,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was not a lot of time to dwell on defeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe quickly moved on to preparing for the next game against Perth. A win there was the confidence boost we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now the focus is on Lynx and marking another home-court victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying in Bendigo means so much to me,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBendigo is home and it\u2019s another chance to play in front of family, friends, and a passionate group of Spirit fans.<\/p>\n
Saturday night\u2019s match between Spirit and Lynx tips off at 7.30pm.<\/p>\n
To get courtside for the action adult tickets are two for $20 and kids go free with an adult ticket purchase. Use promo code 20OFFER when booking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AS she approaches her four-hundred and fifty-second match in Women\u2019s National Basketball League action, Kelly Wilson does not want Bendigo Spirit\u2019s surge to stop. Spirit fans are being urged to pack Red Energy Arena this Saturday night for a huge showdown with Perth Lynx. A special promotion to celebrate Wilson\u2019s record 450th WNBL match which […]<\/p>\n