The Kilsyth Lady Cobras have won a come-from-behind thriller over Sydney at home, defeating the Sparks, 83-75, on Sunday.

 

The Lady Cobras brightest stars stepped up to deliver some huge plays in crunch time, with Steph Blicavs, Jasmine Gill, Sarah Parsons and Angela Beadle leading a game-clinching 12-4 run in the final minutes. Trailing, 70-71 with just over two minutes remaining, Blicavs drained a three-pointer from the wing to give Kilsyth a two point lead, but Sydney’s Shanae Greaves quickly responded with a strong finish inside to tie the game. Gill put the Lady Cobras back on top with a tough pull-up jumper from the free throw line, but the Sparks went down low again to Greaves, who tied the game at 75 with a layup inside – plus the foul.

 

Greaves missed the go-ahead free throw, though, and after both teams traded empty possessions, Beadle hit a pair of free throws to put Kilsyth ahead with 53 seconds remaining. Beadle then forced a key turnover on Sydney’s ensuing possession, and Blicavs delivered a dagger to the Sparks on the other end, with the two-time MVP drilling her second three-pointer in as many minutes to put the Lady Cobras ahead by five. Parsons sealed the win with a steal – her second in 40 seconds – and three free throws, capping a spectacular closing run by Kilsyth as they recorded their fifth win of the season.

 

The Lady Cobras furious finish highlighted a huge fourth quarter performance, as Kilsyth outscored the Sparks, 30-15 over the game’s final ten minutes — erasing a seven-point deficit in the process. Lady Cobras coach Sam Woosnam was pleased with her team’s finish to Sunday’s game, which was fuelled by some big bench play from Gill and Alison Downie.

 

BANG! @phaniec with the DAGGER 3 and the Lady Cobras are going to escape with a thrilling W!

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“Yesterday was a really good team building win for us,” Woosnam said.

 

“To come from behind and play so well in the last quarter was very pleasing. The production from our bench was great – as it has been all season – and will continue to be crucial in the team’s success.”

 

Gill led Kilsyth with a game-high 21 points off the bench, while fellow reserve Downie added seven points, five rebounds and three assists. Blicavs’ clutch shooting saw her finish with 17 points; Beadle added 16; and Parsons recorded 10 points, four assists, and a game-high five steals in the win.

 

The win moves the Lady Cobras record to a healthy 5-1, good for second in the league standings. Despite their strong start, Woosnam believes she is yet to see the best of her team as they continue to gel following a heavily interrupted preseason.

 

“We know at this stage of the season we are nowhere near playing our best basketball,” Woosnam said.

 

“It’s a work in progress, with our goal right now just to improve every week at training and start to put everything together in games.”

 

The Lady Cobras will look build on their current two-game win streak this weekend, when they head to the nation’s capital to take on the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (Friday) and Canberra Capitals (Saturday). Following their pit-stop in Canberra, the Lady Cobras will return home for date with league newcomers Diamond Valley on Saturday May 19.

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