THE Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) is back, and the Under 18 girls competition returns tonight after a few weeks off for the National Championships and Easter break. There has been a lot to take out of the first few weeks of the 2022 season, as some of the contenders began to announce themselves. However, the break may have halted some momentum of these teams, and the landscape of the standings may change.

Round Five has some eye-catching matchups on the cards, with a number of sides still unbeaten after four weeks of play. One of the most intriguing games on the fixture will see the Sandringham Sabres take on the Keilor Thunder, with the former aiming to keep in touch with the top two as they search for their fourth win of the year. On the other hand, the Thunder will be keen on igniting their season with a triumph here.

Sandringham Sabres vs Keilor Thunder
Friday, April 29 @9:40pm
Sandringham Family Leisure Centre

In a ripping way to start the weekend, the Sabres and the Thunder will lock horns in a pretty important clash for both teams. While the two sides are a fair way apart on the ladder, expect Friday night’s contest to be quite entertaining, given the how vital the clash is in the context of each club’s season.

The Sabres have started the year in strong fashion, winning three of their first four games, which has been good enough for third spot in the VC Ashe division. It appears they have found a winning formula, and apart from one hiccup against Bulleen 1, have not put a foot wrong. They have been able to produce a winning score most weeks, and that was demonstrated in their 51-point win in Round One. With a number of offensive weapons on their roster, the Sabres will enter the game as the favoured side. Keep an eye on Hannah Wickstrom, who has been in great form of late.

The story is not as positive for the Thunder, who have won just the one game in their first four outings. They currently sit in eighth place, and have plenty of work to do. The break might have helped them, as Keilor would have likely used the time off to regroup and address the areas of improvement. Rejuvenating their season starts on Friday night, but they will need to lift their scoring. However, they are coming off an 18-point win in Round Four, and if Meg Lucas can back up her 14-point showing, it will go a long way in securing the upset win.

Across the courts

To top it all off, there are still nine other games set to take place across the two divisions, with no shortage of entertainment.

VC Ashe

Bulleen 2 vs Broadmeadows, 8:20pm, Mullum Mullum Stadium
Waverley vs Bulleen 1, 9:40pm, Waverley Basketball Stadium
Altona vs Gippsland United, 9:40pm, Altona Sports Centre
Knox vs Frankston, 9:40pm, Knox Basketball Stadium

VC Watson

Hawthorn vs Dandenong, 8:30pm, Mullum Mullum Stadium
Ballarat vs Kilsyth, 9:00pm, Selkirk Stadium
Casey vs Diamond Valley, 9:40pm, Casey Stadium
Melbourne vs Nunawading, 9:40pm, Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
Eltham vs Wyndham, 9:40pm, Eltham High School