Posted on 19 June, 2018
The Cobra Men have recorded a perfect 2-0 SEABL weekend, defeating Mt Gambier on the road in an overtime thriller on Friday night before blowing out the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence on Sunday to keep a firm grip on the league’s best record.
“We are really happy to come out of the weekend the way we did,” Cobras coach Justin Schueller said.
“To achieve what we want to this season we know we need to win games like that against Mt Gambier, and to get them on their home floor is a good step forward.”
The Cobras did it tough on Friday night, overcoming a five point deficit in the final 90 seconds to force overtime before eeking out a 103-101 win over the Pioneers on the road.
Trailing, 94-89 with under 90 seconds remaining in regulation, Isaac Turner drained a huge three-pointer to pull the Cobras to within two, then, after a pair of empty possessions and a Pioneers free throw, Sam Daly got to the rim and was fouled with 25 seconds remaining with a chance to make it a one point game. Daly drained the first, and in a bizarre turn of events, his second free throw was goaltended as the ball rattled above the rim. The result: two points Kilsyth, tying the game to send it into an extra session.
After coming up big to send the game into overtime, Daly and Turner continued to carry the load offensively, scoring all eight Cobra points – including a trio of spectacular finishes in transition – to inch ahead by three with just seconds remaining. And Mt Gambier could not get a game-tying attempt away, handing the Cobras a rare win at the league’s toughest road venue.
Turner and Daly led the Cobras with 21 and 19 points, respectively, as they continued to show off a special – and ever growing – backcourt chemistry. Chris Patton added 16 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and four assists, while Owen Odigie and Felix von Hofe each finished with 13 points in the win. But the performance of the night belonged to forward Dane Pineau, as the big man was an absolute terror on both ends of the floor, finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, and an incredible seven blocked shots.
“It was the highest standard game we have been in this season,” Schueller said of the blockbuster showdown with Mt Gambier.
“And for guys to step up the way they did is really pleasing. Dane was huge at both ends of the floor, as was Owen, and Chris, Issac and Felix had big impacts on the offensive end. To have as many players score in double figures as we did is always pleasing to see.”
After a day of recovery, the Cobras came out firing again on Sunday, riding a dominant first half to defeat the BA CoE, 84-64 on home court.
With Turner and Patton leading the charge, the Cobras exploded offensively for a 51-33 halftime lead, and never looked back as they cruised to their eleventh win of the season. Turner electrified the home crowd en-route to a game-high 26 points, and Patton added 20, with the pair combining to shoot a sizzling 19-29 from the field.
Schueller was impressed with his point-centre combo on Sunday, with Turner, Patton and a dominant team defensive performance simply proving too much for the young and talented Centre of Excellence team.
“Isaac and Chris really controlled the game at the offensive end and Dane and Owen finished off strong weekends for them”
“It took us longer than we would have like to get the ascendancy against the CoE, but our defence in the second quarter gave us the separation in the game that we needed. And to finish with 13 steals a great outcome.”
“The CoE are a talented group so to win the way we did and to hold them to 64 points was pleasing.”
The weekend sweep moves the Cobras to 11-2 on the season, one game clear of Nunawading for first place in the league standings. They’ll look to continue their hot streak this Sunday as they play host to the Geelong Supercats as part of a special SEABL/NWBL tripleheader.
The NWBL Cobra Men tip-off proceedings at 9.30am against the Red Dust Heelers in wheelchair hoops action, followed by the SEABL Women and Men squaring-off against the Supercats and 12pm and 2pm, respectively.
