‘New identity’ a focus for Bendigo Women

With three of the league’s top scorers unavailable to suit up this round, Saturday night’s clash against Frankston at the Red Energy Arena was always going to be a tough one for the Champions IGA Bendigo Braves Women.

With Amy Atwell, Alex Wilson, and Meg McKay not on the team sheet, and Opals star Steph Reid lining up for the Blues, coach Mark Alabakov and his side faced a whole new challenge.

Kasey Burton started strong for Bendigo, as did Kelly Wilson who continues to turn back the clock this season.

But Bendigo’s shooting percentage deserted them in the first term, going into the first break 8-23 down.

Reid turned it on in the second quarter, putting on a show only matched by Wilson at the other end, constantly driving through traffic to score.  

Down 24-49 at the half, Bendigo’s defense had to step up, and it did in the third quarter, resulting in an 11-0 start to the term, and more than four minutes without a Frankston basket.

A 15-point three-quarter-time deficit offered Bendigo hope, but that was quashed with a 6-0 Frankston run to start the final term, the Braves eventually going down 57-84.

Wilson top scored with 22, the only Bendigo player in double figures. Cassidy McLean battled hard for nine points, as did Burton with six, and Madi Sexton with six points and an impressive 13 rebounds.

The absence of three of Bendigo’s top players means extra minutes for Bendigo young guns Caitlin Richardson, Lavinia Cox, and Meg McCarthy, one of the positives of the game according to Alabakov.

“Not having a distinct return time for Meg McKay means we have to alter how we play and crank up our defensive pressure in other ways,” he said.

“We only had a week to put something together and we will be better for that hit out, but it’s not just a time thing.

“We need to start looking at what fits this group better. We’re in a tinkering stage to find out what our new identity is.

“It’s a challenge, but that’s the nature of the game.”

Photo - Craig Dilks Photography