“It was good to get all our players in, but I was still disappointed the way our defence was in the first half, we gave up far too many points,” Bendigo Coach Bernie Harrower said post-game.
“All credit to the kids they executed their stuff well and they certainly showed a marked improvement from what their game was on Friday night against Dandenong.”
The Spirit led by 12 points, 29-17, at the initial break, thanks in the main to a sparkling 13-point opening term from Canadian import Chelsea Aubry.
However, an aggrieved Harrower lamented the home side’s inability to build on that buffer by the main interval as its defence leaked 38 first-half points.
“Defensively in the second half we did a much better job, but I suppose getting home after that hard game, late last night, I can’t expect too much,” he said.
“I’m still a bit disappointed by some of our execution offensively, missed lay-ups again and some of our defensive break-downs are hurting us.”
Significant contributions from skipper Tess Madgen (16 points and 5 rebounds) and towering centre Gretel Tippett (15 and 4) were highlights for the AIS, while coach Phil Brown was particularly impressed with a team-high 18-points and 8 boards from forward Tayla Roberts.
“Look she’s been struggling at both ends of the floor and she didn’t have a good one back at home against Dandenong in Hobart,” he said.
“She’s a regular starter and this is the first time that we’ve brought her off the bench all season.
“She took the little message there and it was great. That’s the way you want all young athletes to respond, be productive. She was great both offensively and defensively.”
Evergreen performer Kristi Harrower again led all scorers in an MVP display as the Spirit took a 16-point spread at the last break to a 20-point win.
“That’s the best we gone this year against a team that’s going to be in finals,” Brown said.
“Not just the margin, but also the way we went about it. I thought we did a great job cutting down some of their avenues, obviously Kristi was the difference in the end.”
The fast-starting Aubry finished with 18 points and eight boards in 32 minutes on the floor.
“Chelsea’s in great form at the moment,” Harrower said.
“She’s been a bit of a revelation in the league and her three-point shooting is outstanding. It was only that we wanted to run the bench and get people into the game that probably meant she lost momentum.”
Bendigo claimed the rebound count by just two, 35-33, while the AIS took both points-in-the-paint (34-28) and points-off-the-bench, 23-16.
An ankle injury to Eleanor Haring, following the same suffered by Louise McLean on Saturday night, has left both players in doubt for next Sunday’s clash with Perth Lynx.
BENDIGO BANK SPIRIT 85 (Kristi Harrower 25, Chelsea Aubry 18, Lauren King 11) bt
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT 65 (Tayla Roberts 18, Tess Madgen 16, Gretel Tippett 15)
By Wes Cusworth for Step On Up to The Microphone Productions.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Perryman for The Bendigo Weekly
FOOT NOTE: An electrical storm-induced power-surge left Bendigo star and General Manager Kristi Harrower stuck in the lift at the Bendigo Stadium following the win over the AIS. Sadly the Opals superstar missed the post-match meal as emergency services came to her aid.
