Even with out the legendary Lauren Jackson, the Southside Flyers stay real WNBL title contenders, as proven by their hard-fought 75-69 win over Bendigo Spirit at Geelong Arena.
Jackson, the Flyers’ 41-year-old captain and the best basketballer Australia has produced, suffered a season-ending achilles tear in her tribute recreation, which Southside misplaced by some extent to the Sydney Flames at John Cain Arena per week in the past.
The Flyers bounced again impressively on Saturday – from each the consequence and Jackson’s heart-wrenching news – towards fellow top-four dwellers Bendigo on this weekend’s solely fixture.
After scores had been tied at halftime, Southside pulled away by eight factors early within the fourth earlier than preventing off a late Spirit cost.
Bendigo moved forward by one level on a 13-4 run however had been left to rue missed free throws down the stretch – a season-long irritant.
At the opposite finish, Carley Ernst’s triple restored the Flyers’ lead earlier than performing skipper Bec Cole buried a three-pointer and swished two foul pictures to make sure victory as Southside moved to 13-5.
Flyers import Kayla Thornton (19 factors) led all scorers, whereas Abby Wehrung (18) headed the cost for the fourth-ranked Spirit (11-7).
The Indigenous break up spherical continues on Wednesday when Townsville Fire host the Melbourne Boomers in a top-of-the-table blockbuster on the Townsville Entertainment Centre.
The pre-match hype is real, with the Fire (12-4) driving a seven-game successful streak and the Boomers (additionally 12-4) returning to their deadly finest final Sunday once they trounced Bendigo by 43 factors.
With their confidence restored, the Flyers face fifth-placed Perth Lynx (9-7) at Parkville on Sunday.
Perth can be favoured to down lowly Adelaide Lightning on Thursday and might heap strain on the highest 4 by knocking off Southside.
The Canberra Capitals host Adelaide subsequent Saturday earlier than the break up spherical wraps up on Sunday night when Sydney sort out Melbourne at Quaycentre.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
