South Spotlight | Sabres take charge late to beat Falcons

Featured image: @In2Action Photography-Jodie Rawiri

The Sandringham Sabres shook off a horror start where they couldn’t keep hold of the ball but dominated the last quarter to set up their 71-60 NBL1 South season opening road win over the Waverley Falcons.

Both teams were making their first appearance of the NBL1 South season for 2026 with the Falcons coming off another finals showing in 2025 after the 2024 championship, but were without Bec Cole, Amelia Todhunter and Carley Ernst to open things at Waverley Basketball Stadium.

Sandringham narrowly missed finals in 2025 only through head-to-head records and despite winning their last three games, so come into the new season on a mission.

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The Falcons opened up an 11-point lead on their home floor in the first quarter and were still clinging to the two-point advantage at half-time having forced the Sabres into 17 turnovers and despite shooting just 13/41 from the field and 3/15 from downtown themselves.

Scores were still level by three quarter-time before Sandringham scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter which set them up for the eventual 11-point win on 51 per cent shooting from the field opposed to the 30 from Waverley, and despite their own 27 turnovers.

Funda Nakkasoglu was outstanding the longer the game went for Sandringham to end up with 24 points, three rebounds and two steals with 4/9 three-point shooting.

Klara Wischer added 14 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks on 7/9 shooting with Isis Lopes contributing 12 points, five boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks, and Lucy Cochrane 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Millie McCarthy is in her second season in the NBL1 South for Waverley having made the move in 2025 after starting her NBL1 career in the West with her local club the Perry Lakes Hawks.

She stepped up impressively with 17 points, eight assists and three rebounds as the point guard.

Sophia Locandro also provided 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks with Tayla Dalton contributing nine points, eight boards, four assists and four steals, Georgia Pineau eight points and three steals, and Hannah Rapp five points and eight rebounds.

Waverley were looking to make the fast start at home for the new season despite missing some key players and they did hound the Sabres into turnovers in the opening quarter.

The Falcons scored six points from those Sabres errors on the way to building an 11-point advantage and being on top 21-12 by the end of one.

Sandringham managed to take better care of the ball in the second quarter and made both their three-point attempts and despite having 17 turnovers to half-time, they were only two points down.

Waverley were still clinging to the 32-30 advantage at the break with Sophia Locandro and Millie McCarthy combining for 20 points even if they were shooting just 32 per cent as a team.

It was then a tied ball game heading into the last quarter before the Sabres pulled away to start the fourth with the opening eight points and keeping Waverley scoreless for more than four minutes before Tayla Dalton eventually broke the drought for the home team.

The Falcons did manage to get back within three when Hannah Rapp scored on an offensive rebound with two minutes to play, but Klara Wischer did the same up the other end and that steadied the Sabres for them to end up securing the 11-point road victory to open 2026.

The Falcons will remain at home to host the Melbourne Tigers now on Thursday night ahead of the Easter long weekend as will the Sabres in their first home game of 2026 against the Dandenong Rangers.

NBL SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 1

WAVERLEY FALCONS 60 (McCarthy 17, Locandro 15, Dalton 9)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 71 (Nakkasoglu 24, Wischer 14, Lopes 12)