FRESH off suiting up for the Australian Opals in a warm up game for the Olympics, Steph Reid returned to the National Basketball League (NBL)1 South Women’s to lead the Frankston Blues past the Sandringham Sabres on Tuesday night.

Kicking off the action for Round 14, the Sabres hosted the Blues at Southern Basketball Stadium, and with this being the final week of the regular season, it was one of the most exciting matchups of the week. Heading into the game, just one win separated the two sides, with the Sabres one spot above the Blues in third, and the matchup proving decisive.

The game lived up to the hype, with both sides having moments of momentum, and the contest looking like it could go either way. Although the Sabres looked to overcome their last quarter deficit and threw some haymakers in the final term, it was too little, too late as the Blues held on to claim a five-point win.

Reid was far and away the biggest factor in the result of the match, with the superstar guard single-handedly dragging her side over the line.

Sandringham Sabres (77) def. by Frankston Blues (82)

Steph Reid – 48 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, five steals

Reid was an absolute monster in the win over the Sabres, completely dominating nearly every area of the game and showing why she is one of the biggest names in Australian basketball.

Firstly, she accounted for over half of the team’s total score with 48 points in an insane solo scoring showing. Shooting 15/32 from the field, she had the license to take as many shots as she liked and it was a winning move as she sparked the team to a winning total.

She was also a consistent rebounder, pulling down 13 boards (two offensive, 11 defensive), and getting first hands on the ball more often than not.

Reid made sure to distribute the ball as best she could, not taking too many shots and finding her teammates in scoring positions, finishing the game with six dismes.

Defensively, Reid made sure to maintain active hands and racked up six steals in the process, disrupting Sandringham’s offensive sets with well-timed defensive plays.

She was a serious force to be reckoned with in the win over the Sabres, and could not be stopped as she stuffed the stat sheet in plenty of ways.