HOW good is sitting at the top of the standings? After two weeks of Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) Under-18 Girls action, Sandringham reigns supreme at the head of the table after winning their second game on Friday night. They took on Bulleen 2 at Mullum Mullum Stadium after defeating Broadmeadows in convincing fashion in Round One to the tune of 51 points, but faced a much more formidable opponent this time around.

Bulleen came into this match in pretty good form itself, after taking down Gippsland United in Round 1, so this was shaping up to be an entertaining clash. Both rosters contain players that can score at a rapid rate, so many predicted the scoring to be the biggest factor in this game. In the end, the excitement was justified, as the two sides played out a cracking battle to decide which team would finish the round at the top of the ladder. Despite a brave effort from the home side, Sandringham managed to get the job done by just five points.

Bulleen got off to a pretty good start, keeping just ahead of its opponents for the first quarter and taking a slim lead into the first break. Sandringham finally got its offence rolling in the second quarter, hitting shots from both inside and outside the three-point line. On the other hand, Bulleen’s offence could not keep the first period momentum rolling, and found themselves trailing at the half.

Scoring picked up in the third quarter, with both sides getting their offence rocking in this time. Bulleen was able to bring back the margin by one point, setting up a blockbuster final term. However, Sandringham was too good in the last, and the home team could not hit their buckets in the clutch as their opponents snuck away with a five-point triumph.

For the victors, the duo of Hannah Wickstrom and Jaida Reid proved to be the biggest factor on the scoreboard, with the duo dropping 20 points each to combine for nearly two-thirds of their side’s scoring. The ability to rely on multiple players to produce a basket gave Sandringham a massive boost over their opponents. For Bulleen, Tahlia Leeson could not have done much more to get her side over the line with 29 points in an explosive offensive display.

Across the courts

VC Ashe

Gippsland United (56) def. Keilor (43)

Altona (48) def. by Frankston (72)

Broadmeadows (37) def. by Waverley (49)

Bulleen 1 (53) def. Knox (46)

VC Watson

Kilsyth (61) def. Hawthorn (28)

Eltham (38) def by. Dandenong (73)

Wyndham (61) def. by Nunawading (69)

Casey (49) def. Melbourne (47)

Diamond Valley (60) def. Ballarat (52)