AFTER 676 days the Bendigo Spirit are finally back on the WNBL winners list, after defeating the Melbourne Boomers by five goals, 63-58.

It was the Boomers who got first possession and the first score on the board after Cayla George was fouled. The Spirit then got on the board moments later after Anneli Maley was fouled.

Although both sides were accurate from the free throw line, both sides were inaccurate otherwise early on. Both sides missed many shots in the opening minutes.

It was end to end action for much of the quarter but the Spirit were definitely the better side. Strong defence from the Spirit and wayward passing from Melbourne certainly did not help the Boomers’ cause.

In the end Bendigo’s strong defence and Melbourne’s wayward passing and inaccurate shooting was the difference as the Spirit took a 21-8 lead at quarter time.

The second term saw the Boomers slowly but surely come back at the Spirit and the margin got down to as low as five points. Bendigo did score a couple of times to briefly stop the Boomers momentum, but the quarter belonged to the Boomers.

The Spirit were able to wrestle back a little bit of momentum towards the end of the term. They took a four point lead into the main break.

In the first half both sides were inaccurate, particularly from beyond the three-point arc. The Boomers missed all 12 of their three point shots, while the Spirit only converted one of their eight shots.

It was a tight third term, with several lead changes and momentum swings.

Early on, Melbourne continued their momentum from second quarter into the third, and had drawn level with the Spirit early. A three pointer from Maley ensured the Spirit regained a bit of a buffer, but the Boomers ensured it was gone again only moments later. The Boomers even took the lead with just over five minutes to go in the term, but the Spirit erased that lead seconds later.

Neither side could get more than two points ahead for much of the term, but as the end of the term drew closer Bendigo started to regain a little bit of momentum. The margin was six points in the end as the two sides went into the final change.

Both sides were inaccurate in front of goal in the final term. Melbourne were able to bridge the gap back down to three points with just over six minutes to go. The Spirit though were able to stretch out their lead out again and were in the end ultimately too strong, taking out the win.

Maley was a star for the Spirit in the win, shooting 18 points and earning 13 rebounds. Tessa Lavey scored 12 points and six assists, whist Madeleine Garrick scored 11 points and had four rebounds and four steals.

Meanwhile for the Boomers, George top scored with 16 points and was absolutely phenomenal with 19 rebounds. Ezi Magbegor was the other player who aided off the boards with seven rebounds to accompany eight points, whilst Tiffany Mitchell scored 12 points.

The Boomers do not have long to wait to turn around this result, as they play the Flyers at home on Saturday. The Spirit have a bit more of a break than the Boomers. Their next match is against the Boomers again, at home on the 19th.