SANDRINGHAM Sabres came from behind in the first half to run over the top of Hobart Chargers in Round 2 of the NBL1 South Women’s competition. The Sabres trailed by four points at the main break, and while the deficit was not overly great, it took until the final 90 seconds to finally surge past the Tasmanian outfit, 80-75.

A couple of successful free throws from Sharna Thompson with 1:49 on the clock drew the Chargers level and the crowd knew it had a ball game. A fantastic successful layup from Lucy Cochrane where she also drew the foul and then delivered the And-One chance put her side up by three shortly after.

Both teams missed opportunities from beyond the arc with Haylee Andrews looking for a downtown attempt to stretch the lead out, before Thompson also failed to convert a long-range bomb. When the latter fouled Funda Nakkasoglu to snd the Sabre to the line with 13 seconds left, time was of the essence.

Nakkasoglu calmly went back and made both free throws to push the lead out to five, and when Thompson missed a second straight three-point attempt coming off the time out, it was game over as Sandringham retained possession for the 80-75 win and remained undefeated from the opening fortnight.

Nakkasoglu’s last points made her the winning side’s top scorer with 19, while pulling in five rebounds, dishing off four assists and managing two steals. While her shooting from long-range (1/8) left a little to be desired like most in the game, she was instrumental across her 30 minutes on court.

Cochrane (18 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three assists) and Klara Wischer (14 points, 11 rebounds) both noted up double-doubles, as Andrews put up 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Meanwhile for Hobart, the heavy lifting was done by Chelsea D’Angelo (22 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals), while Tayla Roberts (20 points, nine rebounds) also scored heavily.

Roberts, Thompson (14 points, nine rebounds) and Chargers’ skipper Ellie Collins (11 points, nine rebounds) were phenomenal off the boards, making up 59 per cent of their side’s rebound count. D’Angelo’s three of four from beyond the arc – the same as Wischer – were the most damaging long-range shooters as the teams combined for 11/49.

AROUND THE COURTS

Hobart Chargers stayed in town to head down to Casey Stadium only to suffer another heartbreaking loss, this time by seven points to the Cavaliers. It was not a great weekend for the Tasmanian sides as Launceston Tornadoes also lost both their matches with defeats to Waverley Falcons (21 points) and Bendigo Braves (four).

In a Friday night special, the Cavaliers got the job done interstate against the Mt Gambier Pioneers, while at home Melbourne Tigers proved too good for Kilsyth Tigers. Dandenong Rangers, Geelong United, Bendigo Brave and Knox Raiders all came out on top on Saturday, with Nunwadingg Spectres and Frankston Blues winning on Sunday.

SOUTH ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Friday, April 4:

Mt Gambier Pioneers (60) def. by Casey Cavaliers (76)
Melbourne Tigers (90) def. Kilsyth Cobras (76)

Saturday, April 5:

Sandringham Sabres (80) def. Hobart Chargers (75)
Geelong United (94) def. Ballarat Miners (61)
Bendigo Braves (77) def. by Keilor Thunder (84)
Dandenong Rangers (79) def. Eltham Wildcats (61)
Diamond Valley Eagles (73) def. by Knox Raiders (95)
Waverley Falcons (76) def. Launceston Tornadoes (55)

Sunday, April 6:

Kilsyth Cobras (68) def. by Nunawading Spectres (70)
Bendigo Braves (83) def. Launceston Tornadoes (79)
Casey Cavaliers (80) def. Hobart Chargers (73)
Ringwood Hawks (69) def. by Frankston Blues (75)

>> FULL NBL1 RESULTS