22
Dec
4 min read
Tera Reed hits clutch free throws to break Spirit
Tera Reed of the Flyers warms up ahead of the round eight WNBL match between Southside Flyers and Bendigo Spirit at State Basketball Centre, on December 22, 2024, in Melbourne. Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
Southside Flyers edge out Bendigo Spirit 91-88 in thrilling WNBL clash
- Bec Cole leads Flyers with 22 points in narrow victory
- Veronica Burton's 31-point effort not enough for Spirit
- Naz Hillmon dominates boards with double-double performance
Tera Reed knocked down four clutch free throws with less than 14 seconds left to secure the upset of the WNBL season as Southside Flyers fought off Bendigo Spirit 91-88 in Round 8 of the WNBL season in Melbourne on Sunday, December 22, 2024 (Game Centre).
Reed's first pair put the Flyers up 89-85 but a massive Veronica Burton three dragged the Spirit to within one — 89-88 — but Bendigo had to put Reed back on the line with 6.7 seconds left. She made the next two. Burton's tough running three point attempt as the clock expired missed wide right.
The Flyers are now 4-7 while the Spirit are 9-2 having now lost two on the bounce after starting the season 9-0.
Flyers soar to victory behind balanced attack
Bec Cole led the charge for the Flyers, pouring in 22 points while also contributing eight rebounds and four assists in a stellar all-around performance. The veteran guard's leadership was crucial in guiding her team to victory.
Naz Hillmon was a force in the paint, recording a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Her dominant presence on the glass helped the Flyers maintain a slight edge throughout the game. Maddi Rocci also played a key role, chipping in 18 points and 3 assists.
Spirit's valiant effort falls short
Despite the loss, the Bendigo Spirit showed tremendous fight, led by an outstanding performance from Veronica Burton. The dynamic guard exploded for a game-high 31 points, including a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. Burton's efforts kept the Spirit within striking distance until the final buzzer.
Veteran centre Marianna Tolo provided solid support with 23 points on efficient 10-of-13 shooting from the field. However, the Spirit struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 25.8% of their three-point attempts compared to the Flyers' impressive 57.1% clip from long range.
Looking ahead
Bendigo goes on the road in the first game of Round 9 against the surging Adelaide Lightning (Game Centre) on Friday, December 27 while the Flyers go on the road to the Sydney Flames (Game Centre) on Monday, December 30, 2024.
