Bendigo Spirit hope to maintain their home court winning steak (3-0) when they play the Dandenong Rangers on Friday night.
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The Rangers have lost the last four games, but Spirit coach Simon Pritchard said a significant amount of travel and an “unfavourable” draw were factors which contributed to their losing streak.
“Last time we came up against the Rangers they had played the night before and star player Rachel Jarry wasn’t on the court,” Pritchard said.
“Jarry, Rebecca Cole and Betnijah Laney are the key three players that we will need to contain.”
Pritchard said it was essential for the Spirit to gain an upper-hand with a strong lead early in the game to put the pressure on the Rangers.
“The key is how we defend against them,” he said. “If we can really put the clamps on and not give them too much to work with and ensure they have contested shots, then we will be in a pretty good position.”
Pritchard said the team’s goal was to make it “as hard as possible” for any of their opponents to defeat the Spirit on their home court.
“If we could possibly win every game at home this season… and a few more away games it would almost guarantee us to make the finals,” he said.
The crowd has been invited to come to the game dressed in their domestic basketball jerseys to gain free entry to the match.
Bendigo Spirit (5-2) will play the Dandenong Rangers (2-4) at the Bendigo Stadium on Friday night, tip-off at 7pm.
The Spirit will hit the road and play the Sydney Uni Flames (0-8) in NSW on Sunday afternoon, tip-off at 2.45pm.
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