Spirit coach says season’s still alive

Bendigo Spirit coach Simon Pritchard says his team's season is very much alive.

THE Women's National Basketball League finals start now for Bendigo Bank Spirit.

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With three regular season games remaining, coach Simon Pritchard's side needs to win all three games if they are to force their way into the top four.

Even then they will need to rely on one of Perth Lynx (14-7), Dandenong Rangers (14-7) and Townsville Fire (13-9) dropping a couple of games.

Dandenong appears the best bet of slipping-up, with the Rangers, who find themselves on a two-game losing streak, scheduled to meet top side Sydney Uni and form side Townsville.

First-up for the Spirit will be Canberra Capitals in Canberra this Saturday.

Pritchard said as far as he and his players were concerned their future was still in their own hands.

"We are not out because the road home for the other teams is so difficult," he said.

"There are so many permutations and things that can happen.

"For us we simply have to win our last three games, and we know we are 2-1 against Canberra, tied up at 56-all with six minutes to play in Canberra before we ran out of legs after the Townsville game.

"We know we can get Canberra and then lump a whole heap of pressure on Dandenong, who have Townsville and Sydney to come."

Pritchard said he was buoyed by the Spirit's second half performance against Townsville last weekend in a 83-77 loss after trailing by as much as 25 points early in the third quarter.

"Our defence in the first half was abysmal, I thought we were slow and reactive and got broken down on containment," he said.

"And we made some costly turnovers.

"It was only a two-point game with 20 seconds to go .... we missed our free throws, which they didn't.

"It was a game of two halves for sure, but after half time we outscored Townsville 49-28, they went eight from 25 from the floor and shot at 32 per cent, we only had 11 turnovers and won the rebound battle 41-33."

The Spirit will make-do without starting point guard Kerryn Harrington against Canberra and potentially the following week against Melbourne Boomers and Perth Lynx.

The 24-year-old is battling an injured calf after playing her 150th WNBL game on the weekend.

As she did during Harrington's absence for three games during January, import Blake Dietick will step back into the starting line-up.

The American clearly relished the added responsibility, averaging 12.25 points and 6.4 rebounds as a starter, above her season averages of 6.52 ppg and 2.71 rebounds.

"Obviously it's devastating for Kez to be injured, but it has allowed me to step into a leadership role on the court," Dietrick said.

Blake Dietrick

"I embrace (the responsibility). I got a lot of shots up when I was back at home (over the Christmas break) and worked hard, it wasn't a vacation from basketball for me.

"It was a time to get better and I think that shows on the court."