South Spotlight | Sabres prevail in top-of-the-table clash

Featured image: @In2Action Photography-Jodie Rawiri

With Klara Wischer and Steph Reid showing the way, the Sandringham Sabres are the last NBL1 South team to only lose once so far in 2026 after winning their top-of-the-table clash over the Casey Cavaliers 85-63.

Both teams came into the match up at Casey Stadium having only lost once each this season and having won their past five in-a-row so the stage was set for a tantalising match up.

But it was the Sabres who would end up dominating the entire way including holding Casey to 10 points on 3/16 shooting in the first quarter and 1/12 three-point shooting in the first half with that lone three ball made by Dallas Loughridge.

Sandringham then went on a 13-2 run to start the second half and from there went on to score the 22-point victory to make it six straight and improve to 8-1 and to be clear in top spot of the NBL1 South.

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Klara Wischer continues to shine this season with her increased role once again on previous seasons. She delivered another 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists with 8/16 shooting from the floor, 2/5 from downtown and 4/5 at the foul line.

Steph Reid also produced 17 points, nine assists, five rebounds and five steals, Lucy Cochrane 15 points, 10 boards, four assists and two blocked shots, Maddie Angus 11 points, two rebounds and two steals, and Sierra Woodhouse nine points on 3/4 shooting from downtown.

It's a first loss for the Cavaliers since back on April 2 against the Knox Raiders and they only managed to end up shooting 4/18 from behind the three-point line while only getting to the foul line 13 times, having just seven offensive rebounds and having 16 turnovers.

Dallas Loughridge had an efficient night for 16 points, three assists and two rebounds on 5/10 shooting from the floor and 5/5 at the foul line.

Sam Bowman had another 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals for Casey with Sharne Robati finishing with 12 points, six boards and three assists, and Nya Lok nine points, six rebounds and two steals fresh off signing with the Perth Lynx for WNBL27.

Both teams came into the top-of-the-table clash on five-game winning streaks but it was Sandringham who dominated the first quarter to end up leading 17-10 by quarter-time.

The Sabres might have only shot 35 per cent themselves, but they pulled down 19 rebounds including five at the offensive end while the Cavs only managed to shoot 3/16 from the field and 1/8 from downtown.

The lead for the Sabres got out to double figures in the second quarter and by half-time the visitors were leading 41-31 with Klara Wischer already having a double double made up of 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Sandringham then started the third quarter on fire with a 13-2 run to see that lead blow out to 23 points and they were still on top 63-40 by three quarter-time as a result.

Casey only managed nine points with 4/12 shooting for the entire third quarter while having 10 turnovers after coughing up just two in the entire first half.

That Sandringham advantage got out to as much as 31 in the last quarter as well and they ended up winning by 22 from there to make it six straight and to move clear in top spot of the NBL1 South.

The Cavaliers back up on Sunday on the road to the Waverley Falcons with the Sabres not playing again until hosting the Ringwood Hawks next Saturday.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 6

CASEY CAVALIERS 63 (Loughridge 16, Bowman 14, Robati 12)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 85 (Wischer 22, Reid 17, Cochrane 15)