WNBL’s third-placed Bendigo Spirit has secured a thrilling 81-76 victory over the table-topper Melbourne Boomers in an exhilarating match at Melbourne Sports Centres.

The Spirit’s heroic effort saw them take the lead late in the fourth quarter and hold off Melbourne’s late surge to secure their third win in a row. Throughout the first three quarters, the home team Boomers, took the lead, but they failed to hang on in the final half when it mattered the most.

This WNBL Sunday classic was a great way to end the weekend for fans. After trailing by six points at the end of the third term, Bendigo came out on top by just five points in the fourth quarter by disappointing the hone crowds of Melbourne.

As soon as the Boomers took the field, they flew out of the box quite comfortably and went on to get a flawless start to the match. They kept this momentum going for the whole first half and ended the quarter with a 9 points lead and a 23-12 scoreline. 

Despite being held to 12 points at quarter time, Spirit outscored its opponents in the second quarter, stacking 26 points. Despite the visitors’ efforts, Boomers went into the break with an 8-point lead and a 46-38 score.

After another tough third term, Bendigo outscored the Boomers once again. In the third quarter, Melbourne led by six points, but the Spirit’s three-point shooting played a big part in keeping them alive. With 62-56 on the board, the game had reached the last and final quarter.

Bendigo was upfront in the game for the first time with a 7-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter. Boomers were also pushing hard to regain the lead by converting their FT and FG.

A couple of quick field goals by Kelly Wilson and Alicia Froling gave the Spirit a 5-point lead with 4:30 remaining. While the Boomers chased the game well in the final seconds, they failed to level the score or take the lead, ending the game with a disappointing loss.

Bendigo’s impressive performance was led by their superstar Kelly Wilson, who posted a team-high 19 points along with 3 assists. She was ably supported by a solid all-around display from forwards Anneli Maley, who had 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Alex Wilson chipped in with 10 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds.

Cayla George was Melbourne’s best player, with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Besides, Tiffany Mitchell (20 points, 6 rebounds) and Kristy Wallace (7 points, 11 assists) also had an excellent game for the host.

As the race to the finals heats up, Spirit is now equal to second in win percentage. In the next game week, Bendigo and Boomers both will host the Perth Lynx.