THE ELTHAM Wildcats delivered one of the best performances of the 2025 season in the VJBL Under-18 Girls VC Ashe competition on Friday night, defeating the Frankston Blues by a whopping 64 points in a dominant display.

The Wildcats have been one of the strongest outfits to start the fixture, and look the biggest challenger to the title favourites in the Sandringham Sabres, who currently remain unbeaten and sit atop the standings. Eltham came into the clash with a record of five wins and two losses, but with the Melbourne Tigers sitting around the same mark, the Wildcats would need to keep winning if they were to maintain second spot.

On the other hand, the Blues had won just two of their first seven games, and were desperate to get back on the winners list and remain in contention for a finals spot. However, they would need to bring their best against a strong Eltham side.

Eltham Wildcats (80) def. Frankston Blues (16)

The Wildcats had hosting rights at Montmorency Secondary College, and started the game strongly, although they received a solid challenge from the Blues early. It was tied at 7-7 halfway through the first quarter, before Eltham went on a 13-0 run to lead by as much at the first change in a crucial end to the opening frame.

The Wildcats kept that momentum rolling into the second quarter, scoring the first seven points of the quarter to push their lead out to 20 points. Although the Blues tried to scrap their way back into the contest and slow down Eltham’s scoring, the home side had a late flurry of baskets thanks to Harriet Drummond and Marley Pascoe to hold a 29-point buffer at the main change in one of the most one-sided contests of the season.

Remarkably, it went from bad to worse for the Blues in the third quarter, unable to register a score and allowing the Wildcats to push the margin out even further. Eltham was able to do as it pleased, winning the term 22-0 and not giving Frankston an inch of space defensively in a tremendously restrictive performance as a team.

The Blues were able to record their first basket of the second half late in the fourth quarter, but the deficit had spiralled out of control by this point, with the Wildcats taking the foot off the pedal as their margin soared above 50 points. It was sheer inside dominance from the hosts, who cruised home to a massive win for their sixth win of the season.

Sophie Richardson led the way for the Wildcats, posting 18 points to lead all comers and remarkably outscore the Blues herself. Drummond was not far behind with 14 points, while Addison Knight (13 points) and Pascoe (12 points) also impressed in a dominant team performance.

ACROSS THE COURTS

The Casey Cavaliers got the job done against the Sandringham Sabres 2, claiming a 23-point win at home on the back of a tremendous individual performance from Vanessa Tavete, who posted 22 points and proved the difference.

The Sandringham Sabres 1 maintained their undefeated record with a 34-point thumping of the Surfcoast Chargers at Sandringham Family Leisure Centre on Friday night, showing exactly why they are the clear championship favourites.

A barnstorming 18-8 final quarter saw the McKinnon Cougars overrun the Keilor Thunder and snag a nine-point win on the road at Keilor Stadium in a low-scoring contest that looked like it could have gone either way.

Finally, the Melbourne Tigers have stayed in touch with the top two after defeating the Westgate Imperials at RecWest Baybrook to the tune of 38 points, with five of their starters pouring in 10+ points in an excellent team showing.