South Spotlight | Raiders overpower Sabres in Q4

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The Sandringham Sabres got a triple-double from Elliott Brown and 17 first quarter points from Kaylan Kitto but the Knox Raiders took charge in the last quarter to end up winning 86-73 to improve to 5-1 in the NBL1 South.

The defending champion Sabres did regain championship winning centre and former NBL big man Dane Pineau, but still without Kyle Adnam and Malith Machar as they hosted the Raiders at Southern Basketball Stadium.

Knox arrived having won four of five games so far this season but it was the Sabres on top for most of the first three quarters before scores were all tied by three quarter-time.

The Raiders then took over with 25 points to 12 in the last quarter for the 13-point win to go to 5-1 on the season with Sandringham now 2-4 after three consecutive defeats.

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Trazarien White top-scored in the win for Knox with 19 points with four rebounds, three assists and two steals while South East Melbourne Phoenix co-captain Jordan Hunter delivered 15 points and 12 rebounds to win the Anzac Medal.

Tasmania JackJumpers big man Kobe Williamson added 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists with 3/6 three-point shooting, Brody Nunn 13 points, six assists and four boards, and Brandon Slater 11 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists.

The Sabres hung in there for as long as they could but in the end the missing firepower, class and everything that Kyle Adnam and Malith Machar provide was sorely missed once more.

Kaylan Kitto had 17 of his 23 points in the first quarter but still shot 7/14 from the field and 5/10 from downtown in his 33 minutes.

Kyle Bowen added 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks while Elliott Brown delivered a triple-double consisting of 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in his 37 minutes.

It was a rematch of the 2023 Grand Final with the shorthanded Sabres coming into the clash having lost heir past couple with Knox having lost just once this season, but it was Sandringham at home starting the better to be up 28-21 by quarter-time.

Kaylan Kitto already had 17 points in that first quarter for Sandringham but the Raiders stayed in touch thanks to getting to the line 11 times to four.

The scoring dried up for the Sabres in the second quarter including Kitto going scoreless to still be on 17 points by half-time and as a team they managed just the 13 on 5/18 shooting including 1/9 from downtown.

Opposed to that, Knox put up 17 points and Jordan Hunter had nine points and seven rebounds to half-time but it was still the Sabres clinging to the 41-38 advantage.

The Sabres again led by as much as eight in the third quarter but by three quarter-time scores were all tied and it was then all the Raiders in the final stanza with 25 points to 12 on the back of shooting 7/14 from the floor, 3/6 from deep and 8/10 at the foul line.

Opposed to that the Sabres ran out of gas to go 5/13 in the last quarter with 1/6 from downtown and 1/2 at the foul line with Knox ending up winning by 13 to go to 5-1 on the season.

The Sabres will be in action again next Saturday night on the road to Geelong United while Knox have the quick turnaround to hosting the Diamond Valley Eagles on Sunday.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ANZAC ROUND

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 73 (Kitto 23, Bowen 19, Brown 15)

KNOX RAIDERS 86 (White 19, Hunter 15, Williamson 14)