‘Under the radar’: Star’s new role helps Spirit to soar
Sebastian Tan |
Opals star Marianna Tolo’s embrace of a new role has helped the Bendigo Spirit’s stellar WNBL rise despite losing her services on court, says young gun Olivia Pollerd.
Tolo announced she was pregnant and would miss the rest of the season after playing her milestone 250th match on November 23.
But the veteran centre remains a significant and vocal presence, stepping up off-court to boost the Spirit.
Pollerd sees the impact Tolo is having, especially as the side is also missing fellow senior member Casey Samuels with a foot injury.
Despite those absences, Bendigo are on a six-game winning streak, climbing to second on the ladder to tie with ladder leaders Townsville Fire on nine wins.
“We’re a team that’s gone under the radar, and we just quietly keep getting these wins,” Pollerd told AAP.
“Tolo is a big part of our team on the floor because she’s such an amazing player, but as a human being, she’s just as good if not better.
“I can hear her encouraging us, giving us advice, filling up water bottles, and giving us fruit. She’s taking on so many new roles off the floor.”
Tolo’s absence left a gap for others like Pollerd to fill, and the 23-year-old has thrived, posting three double-digit scoring performances in her last four games.
Now, her focus is on Saturday’s game against the Geelong Venom in a match she’s calling a battle of the young guns as Megan McConnell, Kelsey Rees, and Georgia Booth have also been influencing the Spirit’s performances.
And Geelong also have significant young talent, including MVP contender Mackenzie Holmes and pocket-rocket Lilly Rotunno.
“They’re a fast-paced team … Holmes is leading the league in scorers, so they definitely have a lot of strong pieces,” Pollerd said.
Another young gun, Dallas Loughridge, will face the Sydney Flames on Sunday, aiming to help secure Adelaide Lightning’s interim coach Aja Parham-Ammar’s first win.
Parham-Ammar has fallen short of winning her first two games in charge following the departure of Kerryn Mitchell, most recently in a nail-biting 76-71 loss to the UC Capitals on Tuesday.
Loughridge believes Adelaide (3-7) are due to win soon.
“We’ve had a tough couple of weeks, so being able to have that week off where we could get into training and have a little mini preseason has been really good for us,” Loughridge told AAP as the Lightning enjoyed a break between Parham-Ammar’s first two matches.
“She’s brought her coaching style into our group, and she’s going to coach us the way that she wants, so once we adjust and get a flow going, we’ll be really good.”
Elsewhere, the Capitals host Southside Melbourne on Friday, when the Flyers will look to reclaim the coveted fourth spot from their opponents.
Heavyweights Perth Lynx and Townsville face off on Sunday night before Southside play Geelong to finish round nine on Tuesday.
AAP
