Post-Game Report November 19 V Bendigo Spirit
The Deakin Melbourne Boomers continued their perfect start to the 2023/24 Cygnett WNBL Season with a 76-74 win over the Bendigo Spirit at the Boom Box.
The last six times the Boomers and the Spirit have met, the win record has been split 3 a piece. Heading into Sunday afternoon’s match up, the Spirit were searching for their first win for the season, whilst the Boomers were looking to make it 4-0. Aimee Rocci was set to make her return to the court after 12 months on the sidelines in her new Boomers outfit, and seasoned veteran Kelsey Griffin returned to the court for the Spirit for the first time after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Tera Reed opened the game with a quick layup from the tip from a classy assist in the lane from Sara Blicavs. Griffin immediately made an impact on the floor in her return by hitting an early three. Blicavs was quick to respond by draining a three of her own to get her eye in early from long range. Keely Froling hit a fade away jumper to start her campaign however, Bendigo went on a 7-0 run led by Griffin and Abigail Wehrung to get the Spirit out to a 17-10 lead halfway through the first. A Jordin Canada three late in the quarter cut the deficit to 9 pts however, the experience of Griffin proved the difference and the Boomers trailed 30-16 to end the first.
Alicia Froling added to the Spirit’s lead with a quick lay-up to begin the second however, the momentum was all with the Boomers from there as they went on a 10-0 run to cut the Spirit’s lead back to 6 points. This was highlighted by Rocci’s long-awaited return to the court. She made her presence felt on the offensive end by recording her first points as a Boomer. Canada, Froling, and Naz Hilmon continued to be mainstays for the Boomers in offense, but it was Griffin who was causing headaches for the Boomers to finish the half with 18 points. Canada put her body on the line late in the second with a big collision with Kelly Wilson which sent Canada to the line for two. The made free throws didn’t damage the scoreboard too much as the Spirit held a healthy 41-27 lead at the half.
Canada opened the third with a quick drive to the basket to record the two, which was closely followed by a lay-up from Tera Reed to cut the Spirit’s lead to just 10. Blicavs added another triple to her name however, Ruth Davis was too tall in the paint for the Boomers and began to blow the lead out for Bendigo again. Canada showed her class mid-way through the third with a silky layup through the lane and followed it up in the next play with a mid-range jumper. Wehrung was dangerous from beyond the arc all game and hit a late three which forced Coach Lucas into a time-out. Blicavs responded after the time-out by draining back-to-back triples, these were answered once again by Griffin who helped the Spirit to a 62-50 lead heading into the last.
The Boomers started the last with a 13-0 run led by Froling, Canada, and Rocci. The Boom Box erupted after a made jumper from Canada to give the Boomers their first lead of the afternoon. It was back-and-forth basketball from there with the lead changing hands multiple times. It was only fitting after a silky performance that Canada had the last say with a teardrop layup to clench the win for the Boomers, 76-74.
The Boomers head into Round 4 with a fairy-tale start to the season and will be looking to make it 5-0 against the UC Capitals at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium on the 26th of November at 3 pm. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased here.
You can tune into the game live and free on 9NOW.
They then return to the Boom Box on December 3 against the Perth Lynx, you can help pack out the Boom Box by purchasing your tickets early by clicking here.