THE sting from missing the WNBL finals will linger for Bendigo Spirit\u2019s players, coaches and basketball fans for a long time.<\/p>\n
The club\u2019s run to a long-awaited finals berth was ended in spectacular fashion by Perth Lynx on Saturday night at Bendigo\u2019s Red Energy Arena.<\/p>\n
A 74-93 loss meant Spirit crashed from the third rung to the sixth after a massive turn in fortunes.<\/p>\n
Bendigo led 18-2 less than four minutes into the clash with Lynx.<\/p>\n
It was a big night for Spirit as the club celebrated legendary guard Kelly Wilson hitting the 450-game milestone the previous round.<\/p>\n
Spirit was on a five-game winning streak.<\/p>\n
After being under intense heat, Perth hit back to be within five points at half-time.<\/p>\n
Lynx then dominated the third quarter.<\/p>\n
Shots by Perth kept dropping as Spirit\u2019s either rimmed out or bounced off the board.<\/p>\n
Lynx won the quarter 24-13, and the last, 25-12.<\/p>\n
At the final buzzer Lynx celebrated a 93-74 victory.<\/p>\n
The weekend\u2019s results across the country lifted Perth to the fourth rung and finals.<\/p>\n
“I think it was a case of a number of very small things impacting the final outcome of the game in that second half,” Spirit coach Kennedy Kereama said post-match.<\/p>\n
“Perth made some very tough shots, which is partly skills, partly luck, partly how they play and we have to give them credit for making those shots.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although bitterly disappointed with how the season finished, Kereama said there were many positives.<\/p>\n
“From a pure results perspective it looks as though we’re no further advanced than we were last season,” Kereama said of the 11-10 record.<\/p>\n
“But from a cultural perspective we’re leaps and bounds ahead of where we were.\u201d<\/p>\n
At match end Spirit presented a singlet to Kelly Wilson which had been signed by all team-mates across a WNBL journey of 21 seasons that includes four championship wins.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just what you\u2019ve done, but how you\u2019ve done it,\u201d long-time team-mate Kelsey Griffin said of Wilson\u2019s durability, work rate and skill.<\/p>\n
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