On a night where Ben Harvey marked his 150th game as Braves coach it was the Sabres who reigned supreme.

“Our defence was pathetic for a lot of the match,” Harvey said of the 13-point loss.

“We used three different sets of defence, but none worked well enough or for long enough.

“The lack of urgency when Sandringham had the ball was really disappointing.”

A long-time player and coach, Harvey said to concede 31 points at the start of the match put the Braves under enormous pressure.

“Last week was a terrific effort to keep Nunawading to 74 points, but to allow the Spectres to score 101 is totally unacceptable.

“Some of their three-point shots were from a long way out, but there was little if any pressure on them.”

After fighting back from a 14-point deficit late in the first quarter, Bendigo held a five-point lead by half-time.

Bendigo’s best run in the contest was from late in the opening quarter in which Michael Vigor sunk three consecutive two-pointers.

Sandringham scored the first two points of the next term before Tony Lewis (2), Chris Hogan (3), Grant Johnson (2), Taylor Bell (2) and Jordan Vandenberg (2) put the Braves in front.

Bendigo led 49-44 at the long break.

Momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the third quarter.

The Sabres led 70-67 going into the final term.

As Bendigo’s radar went askew, Sandringham sunk baskets from many parts of the court.

The Sabres surged to a 12-point lead before Bendigo struck back through Jordan Vandenberg (4) and Tony Lewis (3) to be within five at just over four minutes to go.

A hat-trick of three-pointers by Sandringham and no reply from Bendigo made it 95-81 the visitors way at 2.13 to play.

At the final buzzer it was Sandringham which celebrated a 101-88 victory in a match where the Braves led many stats but on the scoreboard.

Leading stats:

Points - Bendigo: Lewis 25, Johnson 20, Vigor 14, Vandenberg 10. Sandringham: Alister MacDonald 25, Rayshaw Goins 25, Nathan Crosswell 14, Stefan Uzelac 13.

Rebounds - Bendigo (44): Lewis 15, Johnson 8, Vandenberg 7, Bell 6. Sandringham (35): Trent Zomer 13, Rayshawn 6. 

A depleted Champions IGA Bendigo Lady Braves took on a much taller and phsycially stronger Sandringham Sabres.

The Braves were without guards Kelly Wilson and Tessa Lavey, Opals commitments; and centre and star import Stacia Robertson, injury.

Andrea Wilson played her 250th SEABL match for Bendigo.

Although they were down by 15 at a quarter to go, the Jonathan Goodman-coached Lady Braves kept fighting to win the final term, 20-19.

The Sabres led 71-57 at the final buzzer. Bendigo’s attack was led by Stephanie Bairstow 18, Kerryn Harrington 12, and Jane Chalmers 10.

Sandringham’s stars were Brittany Smart 22, Caitlin Rowe 16, and Michelle Joy 12.

The Sabres won the rebounding duels, 51-40.

Leading rebounders for Bendigo were Chalmers 11, Bairstow 9, and Andrea Wilson 7.

The Braves are back home next Saturday to take on Kilsyth Cobras. The women’s match tips off at 6pm and will be followed by the men’s clash at 8pm.