OVER the weekend, the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) Under-18 Girls held its first round since early April, with a four week break implemented during the National Championships. It was good to see the competition’s teams hit the court again, with some of the state’s brightest young talents showcasing their skills and driving their sides to victory. There was every chance many of the players would return with a bit of rust due to the time off, but it was not the case.

Round 5 delivered some ripping games, with many going down to the wire and quite a few having a bit of an impact on the standings moving forward. Friday night saw a jam-packed schedule, and one of the most entertaining matches was the clash between the Sandringham Sabres and the Keilor Thunder at Sandringham Family Leisure Centre. It was expected to be a bit of a one-sided affair, given the two teams had enjoyed contrasting starts to the year (Sabres had three wins while the Thunder had three losses). However, it was actually a pretty close affair, and the result was only really decided in the final quarter, where the Sabres were able to break away and claim a five-point triumph, their fourth of season 2022.

Sandringham Sabres (61) def. Keilor Thunder (56)

In a low-scoring first quarter, the Thunder got off to a reasonable start. They made sure to keep the opposition from getting off to a strong start, holding Sandringham to just 10 points. While the Thunder were only able to register 13 themselves, it was still a promising start given their underdog status and struggles to start the season. The Sabres got their game rolling in the second, getting back to their best with impressive ball movement and strong mix of inside and outside scoring. They turned their quarter-time deficit into a five-point lead at the main break, and the game was beginning to pan out as expected.

The Thunder were not quite done yet, fighting back in the third quarter with more scrappy defence to get right back in the contest. Suddenly, the Sabres were not able to score quite as easily as the second term, and Keilor was beginning to chip away at the margin. By the time the third period concluded, it was all tied up, setting up a blockbuster last term. While they may have made things a bit tricky for themselves by letting the game get so close, Sandringham came good in the end, outperforming a brave Thunder team to claim a tense, but crucial win.

As she has done on so many occasions in 2022, Hannah Wickstrom led Sandringham from the front with 21 points. She has been a reliable source of scoring all year, and stepped up in the final term when it mattered. Amy Kurkowski also impressed with 16 points in the win. Meg Lucas was the standout for the Thunder, pouring in an eye-catching 16 points and leading the way on the offensive end.

Across the courts

It was not the only game to take place on Friday night, with the VC Ashe and VC Watson divisions returning in style around Victoria.

VC Ashe

Bulleen 2 (64) def. Broadmeadows (53)
Waverley (10) def. by Bulleen 1 (76)
Altona (21) def. by Gippsland United (58)
Knox (54) def. Frankston (41)

VC Watson

Eltham (53) def. Wyndham (43)
Hawthorn (48) def. Dandenong (33)
Ballarat (56) def. by Kilsyth (77)
Casey (57) def. Diamond Valley (41)
Melbourne (79) def. Nunawading (47)