'Fighting spirit' takes young Flyers to first victory

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Australian basketball legend Sam Mackinnon has recorded his first win as a WNBL head coach after Hannah Hank led the Southside Melbourne Flyers to a 91-77 comeback victory over the Tasmania Jewels at the State Basketball Centre.

The Flyers trailed by as much as 14 points in the first half before dominating the last two quarters 46-31 to build on their impressive opening game of the season, where they pushed championship contenders the Sydney Flames all the way.

Hank had 23 points and was supported by Tess Heal (21 points) as well as Sakima Walker (16 points), young gun Madi Ryan (14 points) and Chinese superstar Wang Siyu (11 points) to take down the Jewels on their home floor.

"I just thought the girls showed true fighting spirit tonight. Down 14, I think it was, and then just to come back and grind it out and I think we had a game plan that we stuck to," Mackinnon said in his post-game press conference.r

"We're really starting to get a bit of cohesion out on the court... It's a great win."

Mackinnon praised the performance of Hank, who came back from multiple hard falls, to be the best player on the court.

"Hannah, it was just sort of nice to see the shackles get released," he said.

"She's such a thinker and sometimes she probably gets a bit caught up in it. I think we're all just trying to, we're all learning each other and I think the girls have been really supportive with Hannah and it was just nice to see her get out in the break, finish some, see a three ball going.

"I think we smiled at each other. Like I just say, keep shooting it like you're open.

"I see the work she does at training, so, it's going to go down."

Four players scored in double figures for the Jewels, led by Darcee Garbin with 19, while Australian Opals point guard Steph Reid had 15.

The Fkyers back up against the Geelong Venom in Geelong on Saturday but the Jewels don't play for more than a week.