Bendigo Spirit are enduring a slow start to the season.
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However, the team is not letting its 2-10 record impact its outlook moving ahead.
"It's about being process oriented. With our whole culture we want the players to come into the stadium at any point in time whether we have won or lost and have everything look the same," Spirit assistant coach Mark Alabakov said.
"Because if we focus on the process then the results will come."
The Spirit's most recent defeat was at the hands of Adelaide Lightning on Sunday, final scores 91-75.
The Lightning were able to make a strong start to the game with a 12-point run, with the closest the Spirit were able to get was within eight points during the third quarter.
"It's purely a mindset thing for us. Being able to come out on the court with a bit more of a competitive edge," Alabakov said.
"Our team generally comes out with an honest hardworking effort but we need to find that, I guess you could say, competitive venom.
"As we are playing against teams who are highly talented but very physical, it will allow us to sure-up some of those fast starts teams have had against us."
Spirit player Shyla Heal said the team knew what was needed to improve.
"No matter what day it is, or where we are, we know what is needed, we just need to go out and do it," Heal said.
In the match against the Lightning Heal finished with 16 points, two rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The game was the team's first after the announcement that American import Becca Tobin had been released from her contract with the Spirit.
Heal said after Tobin's departure, other players stepped up their duties on the court.
"We have other players that can fill her place. Carley (Ernst) stepped up and we know that's what she can do."
Before being released from the Spirit, Tobin led the team on average rebounds per game with 10, which was fourth in the league overall.
Ernst said the whole team was going to step up after Tobin's departure.
"There will be girls out of their positions a little bit, but it's just what we're going to have to do," Ernst said.
"It's tough when anyone leaves, she is a friend of ours but we're remaining positive."
Alabakov said the team was invested in giving current players the opportunity to take on new roles on the court.
"We trust the athletes we have and we think a total team effort with the ability to empower other people to step up and fill that void will pay dividends over time," he said.
Spirt, who are 2-10 on the bottom of the ladder, are preparing for their next game against the Sydney Uni Flames who are sixth with a 4-8 record.
The teams have met once this season, round seven, when the Spirit went down by a narrow five points, final scores 75-80.
- Spirit v Sydney, Thursday December 19 at Bendigo Stadium, tip-off at 7pm.
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