SANDRINGHAM Sabres produced a barnstorming final term to snatch a one-point win over the Casey Cavaliers in the VJBL Under-18 VC Championship Boys over the weekend, with Michael Fitton proving the matchwinner.

Following the school holiday break, the action returned on Friday night, and the clash between the Sabres and Cavaliers loomed as crucial as both teams looked to push back into the race for a finals spot. Both Sandringham and Casey had won just the one match since the regrading portion of the season, and would need a win here to stay in touch with the top teams.

Although the Cavaliers looked in the box seat at three-quarter time at Casey Stadium on Friday night, the Sabres took control in the final term, overrunning the home team in the final frame to snag a win by the smallest of margins.

Casey Cavaliers (75) def. by Sandringham Sabres (76)

Despite being in enemy territory, the Sabres managed to get out to an ideal start to jump out to a quick five-point lead. Sandringham was scoring fast, and the Cavaliers were unable to keep up, eventually trailing by nine points at the first change as the visitors grabbed early momentum, with Spencer Mitchell recording 10 first-quarter points.

It was a much more even contest in the second frame, with the Cavaliers able to even up the match in terms of offensive production and slow down the Sabres’ scoring. The home side were able to arrest some of the momentum from the first frame and cut the margin back to just six points in a much better defensive showing on the eve of half time.

The third quarter was when the Cavaliers looked at their best, finally getting their offensive rhythm going coming out of the main break to completely flip the script and take control of the match. Elijah Cornell and Alier Alier were the main culprits as Casey remarkably took a seven-point buffer into the final break as the Sabres found themselves with their backs against the wall.

With the game slipping out of their grasp, the Sabres were able to get back to their best in the fourth frame, tying up proceedings with a 9-2 run out of three-quarter time. From there, it was back and forth as the two teams traded baskets in some high-intensity action. After Alier gave his side the lead in the final 15 seconds of the match, the Sabres went down the other end and answered in the dying stages of the match, with Fitton proving the hero by finding the bottom of the net to win the game.

Mitchell and Fitton were the standouts for the Sabres, with Mitchell getting his team off to the perfect start en route to a game-high 21 points, while the latter finished the job with a big showing down the stretch to finish the match with 19 points of his own.

Cornell was excellent in defeat for the Cavaliers, turning the game on its head in the third quarter with a near-matchwinning performance. He ended the contest with 20 points, which was the most of any Casey player and nearly enough to get the home side to victory.

Across the courts

The Knox Raiders kicked off the round with a 14-point win over the Eltham Wildcats, defending home court strongly when the two sides clashed at State Basketball Centre on Friday night, with the hosts jumping out to an early lead and never looking back.

The Keilor Thunder also performed strongly on their home deck at Keilor Stadium on Friday, holding on for a seven-point win over the Nunawading Spectres, building on a 26-11 second term and standing firm after the visitors delivered a strong challenge in the second half.

The Sunbury Jets kept the trend rolling of home sides getting a win in Round 6 on Friday night, snagging an 11-point victory over the Kilsyth Cobras at Boardman Sports Stadium in a strong showing in front of their fans.

Finally, the Dandenong Rangers overcame the biggest road trip in the competition, defeating Geelong United by 15 points at Beyond Bank Stadium to maintain their standing inside the top four as they look to contend strongly for the title.