ASPIRING basketballers are being given the chance to learn from some of Australia's best this week in Bendigo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Eighty youngsters have signed-on for the two-day Bendigo Spirit holiday clinic.
It's a chance to sharpen their skills and learn new techniques from WNBL stars Kelsey Griffin, Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, Blake Dietrick, Nadeen Payne, Ashleigh Karaitiana and Spirit development players Jess Rennie and Lydia Brooks.
The youngsters were put through a series of drills and skills-based activities at Bendigo Stadium on Tuesday and will return to the court on Wednesday for a few more hours.
For many it was their first chance to see new Spirit imports Raincock-Ekunwe and Dietrick up close.
Head coach Simon Pritchard said it wasn't just the youngsters who enjoyed the clinics put on by the Spirit, but the players themselves enjoyed the interaction with their fans.
"We've been in Shepparton last Thursday and Friday and we did a clinic in Seymour yesterday (on Monday) with another 80 kids," she said.
"We've had an amazing response.
"There's a whole lot of momentum with people getting behind the Spirit.
"We're really hoping we get a crowd of something like 2000 people for the first game - we really think we can push our crowd record for a regular season game."
The pre-season has already taken the Spirit to Ballarat and Werribee for practice games.
They start their regular season against Adelaide Lightning on October 8 at Bendigo Stadium.