South Wrap | Women's Round 1 (Easter)

Featured image: @craigdilksphotography

Olivia Pollerd had 45 points and Kelly Wilson 20 assists in a huge Thursday night NBL1 South win for the Bendigo Braves with pre-Easter wins also for the Eltham Wildcats, Kilsyth Cobras, Sandringham Sabres, Waverley Falcons and Knox Raiders.

>> SOUTH SPOTLIGHT | RAIDERS CELEBRATE LEAH, BANNER RAISING

>> SOUTH SPOTLIGHT | ELTHAM LOCK DOWN KEILOR FOR WEDNESDAY WIN

>> SOUTH WRAP | WOMEN'S ROUND 1

WEDNESDAY

Eltham Wildcats (68) defeated Keilor Thunder (44)

The Eltham Wildcats put the clamps on Keilor Thunder holding them to 27 per cent shooting and forcing them into 25 turnovers on the way to the 68-44 Wednesday night victory.

Maddy Rocci was brilliant in that first up win for Keilor with 37 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists but she found the going tougher against Eltham on Wednesday night as did the rest of her team with the Wildcats already leading 19-10 by the end of one.

Eltham were only leading by six at half-time having been up by as much as 14, but then dominated with 38 points to 20 in the second half on the way to the 24-point win.

Lil Dart ended up top-scoring in the win for Eltham with 16 points with four rebounds, four assists and two steals despite shooting 6/17 from the field and 2/11 from downtown.

Bec Pizzey also provided 15 points, 14 rebounds and two assists while Sara-Rose smith had a hot start with eight points in the first quarter on the way to 10 for the game along with seven boards and three steals.

Mackenzie Smith added eight points and three rebounds, Georgia Dale eight points and three boards, and Jayde Cadee seven points, three rebounds and two assists.

Maddy Rocci finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals for Keilor on 3/19 shooting from the field with eight turnovers.

Izzy Wightman also finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks for the Thunder with Nikki Metcalfe contributing six points and four boards, and Tess Barnes six points, five rebounds and two assists.

THURSDAY

Kilsyth Cobras (96) defeated Ringwood Hawks (80)

The Kilsyth Cobras dominated after half-time with 49 points to 39 to improve to 2-0 to start the new season with the 96-80 home win against the Ringwood Hawks.

Kilsyth started the season with a road win over Geelong United while Ringwood lost at home to Mount Gambier, and it was a tight first half battle at Kilsyth Sports Centre.

The Cobras were leading 47-41 at the half-time but the home team dominated from there with 49 points to 39 in the second half to secure the 16-point win including scoring 14 points from the 24 Ringwood turnovers.

Nikita Young top-scored with 18 points with four rebounds and four steals for Kilsyth with Haylee Andrews threatening a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and two steals.

Emme Shearer also had 17 points and six rebounds, and Georgia McBean 15 points, five steals and four assists.

Izzy Feller produced 22 points with 4/8 three-point shooting for Ringwood with Honey Kaur adding 17 points and 11 rebounds, Chelby Koker 14 points and four assists, and Taylor Mole 11 points and eight rebounds.

Waverley Falcons (75) defeated Melbourne Tigers (55)

The Waverley Falcons opened their account in 2026 with a dominant showing at home to beat the Melbourne Tigers 75-55.

The Falcons did lose their opening game of the season on Sunday also at Waverley Basketball Centre to the Sandringham Sabres while the Tigers were also coming off a first up loss to the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

After Melbourne had an early seven-point lead, Waverley took control and kept building on their advantage the rest of the way to end up prevailing by 20 points.

Sophia Locandro top-scored for the Falcons with 14 points with six rebounds, two steals and two blocks with Tayla Dalton going 2/4 from downtown for 11 points with four boards, four assists and three steals.

Amelia Todhunter added 11 points and four assists, Georgia Pineau 10 points and six rebounds, Millie McCarthy eight points and five assists, and Maddi Utti eight points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Isa Brancatisano top-scored for the Tigers with 15 points with four assists and four steals while Hannah Giddey added 14 points, 12 boards and four assists.

Sandringham Sabres (75) defeated Dandenong Rangers (47)

The Sandringham Sabres continued their impressive start to the season winning their home opener 75-47 against the Dandenong Rangers.

The Sabres did win to start their season on the road against the Waverley Falcons while the Rangers arrived at Southern Basketball Stadium having lost at home to the Casey Cavaliers back on Saturday night.

Sandringham were right on top all evening with their lead out to as much as six points in the first quarter, 12 in the second, 20 in the third and 28 in the fourth before settling on that final 28-point margin.

The Sabres forced the Rangers into 26 turnovers and pulled down 14 offensive rebounds with Madison Ryan delivering 20 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Klara Wischer added 11 points, 14 rebounds, five steals, two assists and two blocks, Josie Agnew 10 points and three assists, and Isis Lopes eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Imogen Rock had nine points, five rebounds and two steals for Dandenong with Manny Puoch finishing with nine points and three boards, Georgia Taylor eight points and two rebounds, Nyadiew Puoch six points, eight boards and five assists, and Holly Griffiths pulled down 13 boards.

Bendigo Braves (109) defeated Geelong United (65)

Olivia Pollerd dominated with 45 points and 11 rebounds with the Bendigo Braves winning big 109-65 at home to Geelong United.

The Braves lost their first game of the season away to the Ballarat Miners on Saturday while Geelong also lost their first home against Kilsyth on the back of last year's grand final loss after an undefeated season.

Geelong did start well enough to be leading by two at quarter-time but then Bendigo took control including 31 points to 18 in the second frame, and then 38 to eight in the fourth on the way to the 44-point victory at Red Energy Arena.

Pollerd was unstoppable for the Braves with 45 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots on 18/26 field goal shooting.

Jessica Smith added 22 points and five rebounds with 5/11 three-point shooting with Mia Harvey adding 16 points and seven assists, and Kelly Wilson seven points, 20 assists, 11 rebounds, five steals and two blocks.

Lilly Rotunno had 20 points, five assists and four rebounds for Geelong with Reagan Bass adding 13 points and 10 boards, and Indi Bowyer nine points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Knox Raiders (86) defeated Casey Cavaliers (82)

Despite a late Alicia Froling ejection, the Knox Raiders celebrated 200th NBL1 South game for Leah Santomaggio and their championship banner in first 2026 game at home beating the Casey Cavaliers 86-82.

On the back of last year's triumphs where the Raiders won both an NBL1 South and National championship, they hosted the Cavaliers at the State Basketball Centre on Thursday night ahead of the Easter break.

The Raiders were able to open up a double-figure lead early in the second half despite the best efforts for Casey of Dallas Loughridge, and Knox were still up nine with just over four minutes to play.

That's when Froling received a disqualifying foul after fighting for a loose ball and making contact with Hailey Wynd, and the Cavs made a charge from there to get back within two only for the Raiders to hold on for the four-point win.

Paige Bradley produced a monster performance in the win for Knox with 24 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds including going 4/5 from behind the three-point arc.

Froling had 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks for the Raiders with Paige Burrows adding 13 points, five assists and three boards with 3/6 long-range shooting.

Haliegh Reinoehl was +13 in her 31 minutes with 14 points, 10 rebounds and two steals while Leah Santomaggio celebrated her 200th game with 11 points, two rebounds and two steals.

Dallas Loughridge did all she could to give Casey a chance at the win finishing with 30 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Chelsea D'Angelo added 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, Nyaduoth Lok 15 points, eight boards, three assists and two blocks, and Sam Bowman 10 points and 14 rebounds despite her 4/17 shooting.