The Bendigo Braves are preparing for a home court match on Saturday night followed by a game on the road on Sunday for round nine of the NBL1.
First up the Braves will host the Southern Sabres at the Bendigo Stadium and will then travel to Melbourne to play the Ringwood Hawks.
Braves Women will head into the match on the back of double victories last weekend against the Nunawading Spectres and the Dandenong Rangers.
However, one of the Braves' key players, Tessa Lavey said there was room for improvement.
"We knew it was going to be a tough weekend," Lavey said.
"It was gritty...moving forward we're going to have more consistency and chemistry."
RELATED:
Despite the NBL1 being in its inaugural year, the Braves women are effectively the reigning champions, after their 2018 SEABL grand final victory.
"Teams want to play hard against us, they know we're the reigning champions so they come to the games wanting to make their shots," Lavey said.
"At times we tend to allow teams to make a run on us and that's not what we want."
The Braves women have a 10-1 record and will aim to implement improved "defensive lockdowns" when they take on the Sabres 2-9 and the Hawks 7-3.
Lavey has also played as an Australian Opal and was recently named as one of the eight NBL1 players that will attend a selection camp for the 2019 FIBA Asia Cup squad.
The Braves men will need to dig deep this weekend to bounce back from their three-game losing streak.
The Braves men head into the weekend following back-to-back losses in round eight to the Spectres and the Rangers.
This weekend will be a good opportunity for the Braves men to notch another win to their name against the Sabres who sit on the bottom of the ladder and the Hawks who are in second last position.
Captain Ray Turner continues to be a driving force behind the squad, last week securing 26 points, 16 rebounds and four assists in the game against the Spectres.
Mathiang Muo stepped up his game and finished with 25 points and six rebounds in the match against the Rangers.
GAME TIMES
Saturday: Bendigo Braves v Southern Sabres at the Bendigo Stadium, women tip off at 5.30pm followed by the men at 7.30pm.
Sunday: Ringwood Hawks v Bendigo Braves at The Rings, women tip off at 12pm followed by the men at 2pm.
Want the full fixture? Click here.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
