Cobras stay on finals track

By Ben Turner
KILSYTH Cobras have kept themselves in the finals race with a 90-85 win over Mount Gambier.
Kilsyth were expecting a tough game as a run of bad injuries have left the team short-handed.
Adam Jackson and Jon Croft both made the trip despite their injuries knowing this was a must-win game for the Cobras.
Both teams started slowly in this game with the Pioneers taking the early first quarter lead 18-16.
A low scoring game was always going to suit the Cobras and defensively they started well, aiming to hold their opponents under 80 for the game.
Gerard Leonard led the Cobras’ charge with 29 points.
Mount Gambier made life difficult for Kilsyth in the second term crashing the boards hard and keeping Cobras big man Joe Werner (20 points, 8 rebounds) out of the rebounding contest as they pulled in 43 boards to the Cobras’ 26.
Despite the lopsided rebound count, Kilsyth continued to make baskets as they won the second term 24-18 and took a four-point lead into the half.
Jon Lee (14 points, 5 assists) continues to step up in the starting point guard role delivering for the Cobras and keeping them organised at the offensive end.
Both teams heated up in the third term as Mount Gambier regained the lead with a 30-24 quarter.
The Pioneers shot at 60 per cent as the Cobras struggled to contain their explosive opponents.
Dallas Jeffree did most of the damage on his way to 25 points for the game.
DJ Taylor (14 points) kept the Cobras in check but another high scoring quarter and the Cobras would have been unable to match the pace shooting at just 46 per cent from the free throw line.
Coach Grant Wallace put it to his players at three quarter time that a loss would have almost certainly ended the season.
The Cobras responded, holding Mount Gambier to just 19 points for the quarter and scoring 26 of their own to record their third straight win.
Kilsyth improve to 7-10 on the season but still trail fourth-placed AIS (8-8) who split their weekend double.
The Cobras have next weekend off before taking the season defining trip to Tasmania where two more wins are a must.
The Cobras next return home on 21 June when they take on conference rival AIS in a game that could decide who could claim fourth place in the South Conference.