Bendigo Women bounce back in style

The Champions IGA Bendigo Braves Women have achieved a lot in the past few years, including undefeated NBL1 South and National championships.

But what they were able to do at Red Energy Arena over the weekend may be one of this team’s finest achievements.

The undermanned Braves came up just short against a quality Sandringham Sabres offensive outfit on Saturday night, before destroying the top-of the table Ringwood Hawks on Sunday.

Bendigo went into the Sabres’ game without leading scorer Amy Atwell, who is trialing in the WNBA.  Despite her absence, Bendigo made the running in the first half, Alex Wilson leading the way with 21 points in a 53-49 half time lead.

Bendigo’s lead crept out to 19 in the third quarter, the Braves up by 16 at the final break.

Like most teams have done against the Braves over the past two-and-a-bit seasons, Sandringham shot without fear in the final quarter.

The Sabres shot at 67 per cent from beyond the arc in the last term, Bendigo going down 88-94, the team’s first loss in 34 starts.

Meg McKay was brilliant in the key, despite getting double and triple teamed most of the night. She finished with an astonishing 33 points and 11 rebounds.

Alex Wilson ended the night on 27 points, and Kelly Wilson delivered a triple-double yet again, with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists.

With Atwell out, Alex Wilson missing with Australian duties, a squad of just seven available players, and coming off a loss, there was a big danger the narrative against ladder leaders Ringwood on Sunday wouldn’t be a great read.

But the one lesson everyone in the NBL1 knows is never underestimate this Bendigo side.

Again, McKay was facing multiple defenders during most plays, but that didn’t rattle the reigning MVP one bit.

McKay and Kelly Wilson helped push Bendigo’s lead out to 14 during the second quarter, and the Braves train kept steaming ahead, winning 109-74 with, as coach Mark Alabakov put it, “a defensive masterclass”.

McKay finished an astonishing weekend with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Cassidy McLean (24 points and 13 rebounds), Madi Sexton (21 points), and Kasey Burton (18) all capitalised from Ringwood’s inside attention.

“I thought Secco and Kasey were great for us today. On top of that, Meg’s pressure, creating advantage and team success is what fills her cup, which is why she is just a great fit for this club and this team.

Alabakov was impressed, but not surprised, with the way his team responded to Saturday night’s loss.

“We were always going to be the hunted team, which means other teams can play freely and without conscience,” he said.

“Could we have done more defensively, maybe? The team shook it off in the shower. The percentages have been in our favour for 33 games. They weren’t for 34.”

But it was the team’s resilience and ability to dig deep that had Alabakov the most excited.

“We only had seven players, yet we put on a defensive masterclass against a potent and dangerous offensive team,” he said.

“The thing that’s given me the most satisfaction in the past four seasons has been this team’s resilience, how they pull together wins when we are undermanned.

“Whether it was Tess Madgen, Amy Atwell, Alex Wilson, or Meg McKay, whenever we had key personnel missing, the calibre of our performances has been brilliant. And it was again on Sunday.”