2 weeks Ago By Luke West
THE Bendigo Spirit is living up to the lofty expectations it carried into the WNBL season, getting off to a 3-0 start for just the third time in its history. or signup to continue reading The Spirit's winning start to its 18th season in the competition continued on Sunday against the WNBL's newest team Geelong United. Built on the back of a brutal first half the Spirit triumphed 95-78 over Geelong United at Red Energy Arena.
The only two other times the Spirit has started a season 3-0 was 2022-23 (missed the finals) and 2012-13 (won the championship). It was all one-way traffic in the first half with the Spirit having more than doubled Geelong United's score at the main break. The Spirit led 57-28 at half-time, with the rout having been led by gun signing Sami Whitcomb.
By half-time Whitcomb had already posted a stat line that read 20 points, four rebounds and four steals. With just over three minutes left in the second quarter Whitcomb's 20 points were the same amount as the entire Geelong team had scored. Geelong produced a more competitive showing in the second half, but the damage had been well and truly done in the first 20 minutes of the game by the Spirit.
Following her first half masterclass Whitcomb finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, two assists and five steals in just under 30 minutes of court time. She shot 10-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. Second-year Spirit player Casey Samuels maintained her consistent form with 15 points and six rebounds, while development player Georgia Booth had a hot hand from three-point range.
Booth connected on all three of her three-point attempts in scoring nine points for the Spirit, who led by as many as 32 points (52-20) during the second term. The Spirit marked their first interstate trip for the season with a 23-point win over the Canberra Capitals on Friday night. The Spirit prevailed 99-76, with the star pair of Sami Whitcomb and Marianna Tolo combining for 47 points.
Whitcomb poured in 25 points and Tolo scored 22 against the side she has won four championships with at the AIS Arena. One of the standout features of the Spirit's win was their ability to get to the free throw line and convert their foul shots. The Spirit shot 30-of-33 from the free throw line, which included Tolo going a perfect 8-of-8, while aggressive American import Veronica Burton got to the line 13 times, sinking 11 shots.
Burton's 11 free throws were among her 16 points for the game, while Casey Samuels sunk three three-pointers in her tally of 15. As well as Whitcomb's 25 points she also dished out a game-high nine assists for the Spirit in what was a match where both Ashlee Hannan and Georgia Booth made their club debuts. All nine players who suited up for the Spirit played at least nine minutes and all hit the scoreboard.
Bendigo's Lavinia Cox has been added to the Spirit's roster as a development player. The teenager represented the Spirit at the pre-season Hoops Fest tournament in Perth and has been part of the Bendigo Braves NBL1 women's squad for the past three seasons. "Bendigo has always been my home, so to represent the Spirit at this level in front of a home crowd means everything to me.
It was so much fun pulling on the Spirit jersey at Hoops Fest, so I'm sure a WNBL home game will be next level," Cox said ahead of Sunday's win over Geelong United in which she had three points and a steal. "I'm incredibly grateful for the support I've had from my coaches, teammates and the whole Bendigo basketball community." Cox joining the Spirit follows her recent selection in the Victorian under-20 women's team alongside Spirit team-mate Asha Nightingale.
"We are thrilled to be able to provide this opportunity to Lavinia," Spirit coach Kennedy Kereama said. "Lavinia started with us last year as a product of the TMC3 Bendigo Spirit Academy and her hard work has made this possible. She is an exciting prospect who we think has a big future.
" Cox is a dual code athlete, showing immense talent in both basketball and football. Her athletic prowess was on show at last month's AFLW State Draft Combine when she . Following the weekend's double header the Spirit have two interstate games this week.
The Spirit tip off round three against Sydney in Sydney on Wednesday night before travelling further north to play the Townsville Fire on Saturday night. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation.
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