'Reid' the room folks, Steph's Sabres are legit

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Lil Dart and former WNBL star Stephanie Reid led performances that defined Round 4 of the NBL1 South women’s competition, driving Eltham Wildcats and Sandringham Sabres into strong ladder positions.

Dart’s efficient scoring powered Eltham’s dominant win to hold top spot, while Reid, who won a WNBL championship with Townsville in 2023, controlled tempo and execution in Sandringham’s victory over Knox.

Around them, key contributors across the competition reinforced a tightening top tier, with several teams now separating from a congested middle pack.

Round 5 presents a key test of whether these leaders can sustain form against direct finals contenders.

Round 4 Snapshot

• Lil Dart leads Eltham Wildcats to dominant No.1 position
• Stephanie Reid powers Sandringham Sabres past Knox
• Top four begins to separate from chasing pack

What the Round Told Us

• Eltham’s depth and efficiency set the competition benchmark
• Sandringham’s ball movement and balance hold up against contenders
• Knox slip into the mid-pack squeeze after key loss
• Gap widening between top tier and bottom teams

Sandringham Sabres 82 def. Knox Raiders 72 – Watch the Replay

• Quarter Scores: 28-19, 23-17, 18-21, 13-15
• Largest Lead: Sabres by 16
• Game Context: Sandringham strengthened top-two position against a finals rival

Stephanie Reid controlled the tempo with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, anchoring Sandringham’s offence.

Klara Wischer delivered 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Lucy Cochrane added 15 points and six blocks to dominate inside.
Madison Ryan contributed 16 points as the Sabres finished with 25 assists.

Haliegh Reinoehl scored 24 points, including six threes, while Shaneice Swain added 17. Knox shot 38.6% and couldn’t match Sandringham’s ball movement.

By the Numbers

• Assists: 25-14 (Sabres)
• FG%: 44.6%-38.6% (Sabres)
• Rebounds: 44-38 (Sabres)
• Sabres record: 5-1

Eltham Wildcats 87 def. Geelong United 47 – Watch the Replay

• Quarter Scores: 20-6, 29-16, 18-15, 20-10
• Largest Lead: Eltham by 40
• Game Context: Eltham reinforced No.1 status with a dominant performance

Lil Dart erupted for 22 points on 8-10 shooting, including 3-5 from three, leading an efficient Eltham offence.

Rebecca Pizzey added 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Sara-Rose Smith contributed 10 rebounds and four assists.
Eltham shot 52.4% and controlled the game throughout.

Geelong shot 21.6% from the field and 9.1% from three, unable to generate consistent offence against Eltham’s pressure.

By the Numbers

• FG%: 52.4%-21.6% (Eltham)
• Assists: 23-8 (Eltham)
• 3PT: Geelong 2-22 (9.1%)
• Margin: +40 (Eltham)

Other Results

• Casey Cavaliers def. Hobart Chargers 113-89
• Frankston Blues def. Dandenong Rangers 85-69
• Ballarat Miners def. Keilor Thunder 70-58
• Melbourne Tigers def. Kilsyth Cobras 71-66
• Bendigo Braves def. Nunawading Spectres 113-97
• Ballarat Miners def. Frankston Blues 91-74

Ladder Snapshot

• Eltham Wildcats (6-1) sit No.1
• Sandringham Sabres (5-1) hold second
• Casey Cavaliers, Mt Gambier (5-1) remain in contention
• Middle pack congested at 4-3
• Geelong, Northern Force remain winless

Watchlist

• Can Eltham sustain dominance against top teams?
• Are Sandringham the biggest threat to No.1?
• Which 4-3 team breaks into the top tier?
• Can Geelong generate enough offence to compete?

Key Games - Round 5

Casey Cavaliers vs Eltham Wildcats

• Top-tier clash with ladder implications
• Lil Dart vs Casey defence will define the contest

Geelong United vs Sandringham Sabres

• Geelong face another top contender
• Stephanie Reid-led offence vs Geelong defence is critical

Knox Raiders vs Mt Gambier Pioneers

• Knox look to respond against a top-four opponent
• Haliegh Reinoehl vs Mt Gambier frontcourt shapes the matchup

Round Questions

• Are Eltham already the clear title favourite?
• Can Sandringham sustain top-two form?
• Which mid-pack team breaks into the top four?
• Can Geelong or Northern Force secure a first win?