Posted on 11 May, 2009

Box Score Nunawading    Box Score Bendigo

Kilsyth went into the weekend with a 4-5 record and an opportunity to solidify their place in the top 4.  Having already beaten Nunawading earlier in the season and the Spectres sitting at 0-10 on the Season, the Cobras were expected to pick up the win.

Nothing went to plan in this game as rookie Coach Craig Simpson lead his Nunawading team to the upset win.  The Cobras struggled to defend the Spectres from behind the arc as they shot at 44% while shooting at just 70% from the free throw line on 43 trips hurt their chances.

Gerard Leonard (22pts, 3 assists) continued his good form without shooting the lights out and Joe Werner (17pts, 10rbds) played hard despite again getting in foul trouble.

Shane McDonald (21pts, 9 assists) was the main scorer for Nunawading but an even output hurt the Cobra,s with Chris Cameron and Quincy Henderson both struggling for rhythm at the offensive end finishing with just 12 points between them.

Kilsyth found themselves down by to big a margin going into the 4th term and after playing from behind all game the Cobras didn’t have enough to overcome the Spectres.

Sunday brought a new attitude and result as the Cobras got the important win over conference rival Bendigo 110-95. The win was set up by a massive 43 point opening term with Chris Cameron (20pts, 6rbds) and Joe Werner (20pts, 8rbds) unstoppable in the opening 12 minutes.

Bendigo hit back in the 2nd with Matt Trannon (30pts, 12rbds) and Keith Davis (25pts, 10rbds) getting the Braves back into the game. After an explosive final two minutes of the term the margin was back to 10 and the Cobras went into the half needing another big quarter to put the Braves away.

Matt Shanahan (12pts, 5 assists), DJ Taylor (12pts, 11rbds) and Michael Wheeler (10pts, 5 rbds) all played a role as the Cobras extended the lead in the 3rd term and went into the final break up by 15 points.

Trannon and Davis tried hard to get the Braves back into the game in the final term but Gerard Leonard (22pts, 5rbds) had 11 points in a 3 minute spell and Chris Cameron ended it with a three to put an end to any thoughts of a Braves comeback win.

When Trannon fouled out the game was over and Kilsyth went on to the much needed win.  Kilsyth now sit 4th on the ladder (excluding AIS – not playing finals in 2009) with a 5-6 record and an upcoming trip to Tasmania to take on Hobart and NW Tasmania.

The Cobras return home on Saturday 23 May 2009 to take on the Dandenong Rangers from 8.15pm