THE SANDRINGHAM Sabres have remained the only undefeated team in the VJBL Under-18 Girls VC Ashe competition after holding on for a nail-biting four-point win over the McKinnon Cougars in Round 6 over the weekend.

The Sabres have clearly been the team to beat to start 2025, not dropping a game in the first five weeks of play and looking every bit the championship favourite many expected them to be. Meanwhile, McKinnon had enjoyed a solid start to the season itself, winning three of its first five games, but the Sabres are clearly the litmus test up to this point of the season.

It was a stunning start from the Cougars at Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre on Friday night, getting the jump on the Sabres and storming out to an early lead. The home side were sharing the ball and looking extremely dangerous in the open court, punishing an inaccurate showing from Sandringham to score heavily in transition.

With most of the starting lineup getting involved on the scoring front, the Cougars simply outworked the Sabres in the first 10 minutes, and led 22-8 at the first change. It was the first true test Sandringham had faced, and the title fancies would need to lift if they were to remain unbeaten.

The second quarter saw Sandringham play much closer to the level that has seen it storm to the top of the standings. After the Cougars pushed their lead out further in the opening minutes of the period, the Sabres went on a 16-0 run to tie up proceedings in stunning fashion, pressuring the home side into making mistakes and forcing bad shots, although McKinnon still led by four points after a pair of late baskets to Maia Mottram.

The third quarter saw plenty of back and forth action as the sides traded scoring runs coming out of half time. The Cougars again showed plenty of production by drawing contact inside and converting at the free throw line, but the Sabres responded with another 10-3 run to close out the term and lead by four at the final change.

McKinnon’s Daisy Nousis was a woman possessed coming out of three quarter time, single-handedly dragging her side back in front with a flurry of early buckets in the fourth frame. The Sabres managed to sneak their noses in front with a couple of minutes to play, and although a late triple to Evie Haywood made things interesting, the Sabres managed to hold on in the final minutes and sneak away with a thrilling win.

Lily Newman-Morris was her usual impactful self for the Sabres in the win, proving far too strong for the opposition and having her way on the scoring front, posting a team-high 16 points in an excellent display. Melinna Kapetanas was not far behind her with 12 points of her own, while Madeline Angus rounded out the double-digit scorers for Sandringham with 10 points.

Nousis was a one-woman army for the Cougars despite the loss, posting a game-high 25 points and almost dragging her side over the line with a performance that was worthy of a win. Mottram was also impressive with 13 points, as was Haywood who finished with 12.

AROUND THE COURTS

In the other games to take place on Friday night, the Eltham Wildcats recorded a huge win over the Melbourne Tigers at Montmorecy Secondary College, getting the job done by 25 points at home in a strong showing.

The Keilor Thunder were far too good for the Westgate Imperials, storming away to a 45-point win at home, with five players scoring 11-plus points in a tremendous team showing.

The Surfcoast Chargers proved 19 points too good for Sandringham’s second team in the division at Sandringham Leisure Centre on Friday night, in one of their most impressive away wins of the 2025 season.

Finally, the Casey Cavaliers recorded a blowout win over the Frankston Blues at home on Friday, getting the job done by 41 points in an excellent return after the school holiday break throughout April.