Lady Cobras Host Geelong in SEABL Conference Final Saturday

Posted on 23 August, 2017

The Lady Cobras will be looking for their third consecutive SEABL Conference title this weekend when they take on the Geelong Supercats at home.

With a berth in the National Championship Game – which will also be held at Kilsyth – on the line, our girls need their biggest crowd of the year to help keep their season alive! The Lady Cobras took down Geelong in a physical Semi Final battle on August 12, topping the Supercats, 74-66, to advance to Saturday’s Final. Geelong comfortably defeated the Sydney Uni Sparks in last weekend’s Preliminary Final, setting the scene for an epic rematch on Saturday night.
We will be selling super-discounted Cobras merchandise prior to tip-off so get down early and help our Women protect home court!
Check out the league’s preview for the game below (via SEABL.com.au)

EAST CONFERENCE FINAL – Kilsyth Cobras (18-4) v Geelong Supercats (18-4)

Form

The Cobras have enjoyed a break after defeating the Supercats in the Semi-Final by eight points. Trailing by two at three-quarter time, they got the usual contributions from Maddie Garrick (20 points, seven assists) and Angela Beadle (25 points, 14 rebounds, three assists) but Chantella Perera (14 points, eight boards) and Emily Fryters (ten points, ten rebounds) combined for 11 points in the final term to help them secure the comeback victory. Owning a 10-2 record at home, Kilsyth have not lost there since Round 14- almost seven weeks ago.

Falling behind by ten points early against Sydney Uni last weekend, Geelong responded to lead by half-time and from there they were never headed despite the Sparks staying within touching distance for most of the game. The Supercats front court got the job done as Sara Blicavs (23 points, 14 rebounds) and Ebony Rolph (six points, 12 boards) controlled the glass while Isabella Brancatisano also chimed in with four offensive rebounds, helping Geelong to an 18-0 advantage in second chance points.

Key Stat

Geelong joined the women’s competition in 2011 and since 2012, have made the post-season every year. They have not quite been able to taste the ultimate success though, falling in the Conference Final in two of the past three seasons. Meanwhile, Kilsyth have gotten to the Grand Final in the past two years but finished Runners-Up which means they will not be settling for anything less than the Championship in 2017. For one very capable team, their dream will fall short in similar fashion to the past few years this weekend.

X-Factor

Kilsyth: The Cobras have enough offensive strength in the likes of Garrick and Beadle to beat most teams in the competition but if Fryters can perform as she did in the Semi-Final, Kilsyth are close to unstoppable. After recording seven points and 11 rebounds in her debut this season, Fryters played just eight more games prior to the finals, averaging 2.1 points and five boards which makes her double-double a fortnight ago even more impressive. The Supercats can rely on her not shooting 5-7 for a season-high again but her influence in the paint is still a concern for the visitors.

Geelong: Over their two regular season meetings, Geelong owned a 19-2 edge in bench points but with their roster becoming more depleted as the season has worn on, they do not have an advantage coming into the Conference Final. Charlotte Brancatisano was one of those bench players but has now been thrust into the starting line-up, averaging 32.5 minutes per game in the playoffs. Against Kilsyth in the Semi-Final, the Supercats starters shot 47% aside from Charlotte who only hit 2-10 for seven points. If she can find her stroke and utilise her knack of getting to the free-throw line, the Supercats could have the added firepower needed to get over the line.

Key Match-Up

Angela Beadle vs. Ebony Rolph

The 2017 MVP has been dominant in three meetings against Geelong this season, averaging a double-double of 25.7 points and 11 rebounds. Rolph will have the defensive job on her but is undersized and if Beadle can seal herself in the low-post, there is little that can stop her. The Supercats forward will be looking for help from Blicavs as well as Eve Braslis and needs that assistance as such a big defensive task can be draining at the offensive end where her season average of 10.9 points has dropped to 7.3 against the Cobras.

Previous Meetings This Year

Round 3: Kilsyth 79 def. Geelong 64 (@ Kilsyth)

Round 14: Geelong 75 def. Kilsyth 71 (@ Geelong)

Semi-Final: Kilsyth 74 def. Geelong 66 (@ Kilsyth)

Overall:

Geelong have had their backs against the wall since the start of the playoffs but continue to fight hard and they will not make things easy for Kilsyth this weekend. They can take confidence from the late lead they had over the Cobras in the Semi-Final and following a week’s break for the hosts,the Supercats will look to attack the hosts early before they can find their rhythm. Once Garrick has her shot and Beadle asserts herself under the rim, there should be no stopping Kilsyth though who are aiming for a third consecutive Conference title.

Prediction: Kilsyth by 8.