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THE plaudits keep on going the way of the Bendigo Bank Spirit basketball club.
Spirit's victory in the 2012-13 Women's National Basketball League grand final has earned the inaugural Faith Leech achievement award.
Bendigo's only gold medallist at Olympic level, Faith Leech starred in the 4 x 100m freestyle at Melbourne in 1956.
Faith teamed with Dawn Fraser, Lorraine Crapp and Sandra Morgan to win the relay duel.
The Bendigo swimming champion won bronze in the 100m freestyle at the Melbourne Olympics.
The swimming champion, who passed away last September, was an inaugural inductee to the Bendigo Advertiser Sports Star Hall of Fame.
Just as Faith Leech did in '56, the Bendigo Spirit's victory against Townsville showed how athletes from a regional centre can excel in the big pool, or in Spirit's case, the court.
The Faith Leech Achievement Award was announced by Faith's son, Adam Tuohy.
The Bernie Harrower-coached Bendigo Spirit has won through to consecutive WNBL grand final appearances.
Spirit will be on its home court at Bendigo Stadium for the March 9 play-off with Dandenong or Townsville.