Posted on 25 June, 2018
The Cobra Men have dropped an overtime classic at home to the Geelong Supercats, losing, 89-96 on Sunday.
Trailing by as many as 16 points and finding themselves down, 75-83 with under two minutes remaining, the Cobras mounted a frantic comeback, closing the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to force overtime. Isaac Turner started the run with a tough layup in traffic, and then after a pair of empty possessions, Turner forced a Geelong turnover and kicked ahead to Sam Daly for a fast break dunk to make it a four point game.
Following a Geelong timeout, Daly drew an offensive foul to give the ball back to Kilsyth, but Felix von Hofe missed on a three point attempt and Dane Pineau was subsequently whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul while trying to stop the clock. But the Cobras weren’t done, as the Supercats missed four straight free throws, and Ben Ursich raced down court to drain a pull-up three to make it a one point game with 11 seconds remaining. The Cobras then forced yet another Geelong turnover – this time a five second violation – giving Kilsyth a chance to take the lead. The Cobras turned to von Hofe, and the forward got himself to the free throw line but split a pair, sending the game into overtime.
The Cobras would strike first in overtime, with Chris Patton giving Kilsyth its first lead of the game off a hook shot down low. But after digging deep to claw their way back into the game late, the Cobras ran out of gas in the extra session, with the Supercats reeling-off a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Cobras interim head coach Mark Watkins was disappointed with his group’s start to Sunday’s game, one which saw them fall in a double-digit hole early on. And though they eventually found their way back into the contest, key crunch time errors proved too much to overcome against a veteran Geelong team.
“After a disappointing start to the game -being 0-9 down – the players realised Geelong were up for the contest,” Watkins said.
“Our defence in the third quarter set us up to get back into it, and we had our chance to take the lead in regulation, but that’s basketball.”
“We had some poor decisions at both ends that cost us all game, and Geelong were too good in overtime. It’s a lesson learnt on starting each game ready to play in this league.”
Patton led the Cobras with 24 points and added 11 rebounds and four assists; Dane Pineau (12 rebounds), Ursich, Turner and Daly each added 11 points, and von Hofe chipped in with 10 off the bench in the loss.
With their record now dropping to 11-3, the Cobras find themselves in a tie with Nunawading for first place in the league standings.
They’ll look to bounce back this Sunday in their regular season home finale as they take on the Albury-Wodonga Bandits for our Fan Appreciation Day SEABL Doubleheader (12pm/2pm). We’re letting all kids 12 and under enter FREE to both games on Sunday as a thank you for your tremendous support over the course of the season, with all the action tipping-off at 12pm with the Lady Cobras, followed by the Men at 2pm.
