Posted on 25 July, 2018

Cobras duo Isaac Turner and Owen Odigie have won big at the annual SEABL Awards Function, with Turner named to the All-SEABL 2nd Team, while Odigie was crowned the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for 2018.

Turner has been the driving force behind Kilsyth’s high-scoring, efficient offence, averaging a team-leading 19.5 points per game during the regular season. The flashy guard was a model of consistency for Kilsyth during his debut SEABL season, scoring 20-plus points in 10 of the Cobras final 12 regular season games, while shooting 46 percent from the field, 39 percent from deep and 85 percent from the the charity stripe.

Turner’s offensive prowess has been key to Kilsyth’s success to date, playing a starring role in a Cobras offence averaging an impressive 90 points per contest during the regular season. And the electrifying lefty was at his best in crunch time, with Turner having a knack for taking – and making – big shots when the Cobras have needed them most, a confidence that helped Kilsyth finish tied for the league’s best regular season record at 15-5.

While Turner was vital to Kilsyth’s success at the offensive end, Odigie has been just as impactful on the other end of the floor, with the Cobras swingman taking out Defensive Player of the Year honours for the regular season. Odigie has been a force on the defensive end since joining the Cobras in 2017, with his length, quickness and physicality making him a nightmare matchup on the perimeter. Odigie led the Cobras with 1.7 steals per game and finished third in rebounding (6.0rpg), helping the Cobras become one of the SEABL’s toughest defensive lineups in 2018.

While Odigie has posted modest numbers this season, his on-court value extends far beyond the stat sheet. The 6’7 wing is one of the SEABL’s most versatile defenders, with his ablility to cover the league’s toughest guards and hold his own on the low block making Odigie a constant, 90 foot disruption. And despite playing just 12 games during the regular season after missing time with national team commitments (winning Gold at the 3×3 FIBA Asia Cup) and injury, Odigie’s across-the-board impact makes him a deserving winner of one of the league’s most prestigious awards.