Posted on 8 August, 2009

Joe Werner (23pts, 25rbds) kick started the Cobras in the opening term as the shorter Bendigo line up struggled to contain the Werner-Lang front court.  Lang (14pts, 7rbds) teamed superbly with Werner as the two continued to find each other in the paint.

Matt Shanahan (20pts, 6ass) couldn’t be stopped in the first half exploding to the basket on the drive and hitting from behind the arc.  He helped the Cobras build a 21 point lead as they racked up 52 points for the half while holding the Braves to just 32.

Down by 21 points, Bendigo came out of the locker room trying to regain some momentum in the 3rd quarter.  They managed to cut the margin to 15 points following a basket by Keith Davis (14pts, 7rbds).

But just as the Braves looked to have found their range, DJ Taylor (10pts, 5rbds) converted from behind the 3 point line and sparked an 18-8 run by Kilsyth. By 3 quarter time they had extended the margin out to 23 points.

Explosive point guard Jon Lee (12pts, 6stls) was causing plenty of Braves turnovers and helped Kilsyth extend the margin to 26 mid way through the final term.

Bendigo made one last run with 5 minutes to play hitting three consecutive long bombs to reduce the margin to 19 but Kilsyth were not going to let this game slip.

After controlling the game all night the Cobras played out the game with ease and when Werner brought up ton for Kilsyth they recorded a comfortable 21 point victory over their arch nemesis.

Former Cobras junior Adam Tanner led Bendigo with 20 points, while Warren Randall had 13 points and Chris Hogan 10.

Kilsyth dominated the rebounds led by Werner with 25 the Cobras out rebounded Bendigo 52-42 while shooting at 47% from the field compared to the Braves 34%.

The Cobras will now take on the Knox Raiders on the road in the East Conference Preliminary Final with the winner scheduled to take on the Brisbane Spartans on Saturday 22 August 2009.

All game details and ticket information will be available at www.cobras.net.au as soon as details are released by the League.

Remember the Swinburne Kilsyth Cobras will take on Vanderbilt University this coming Tuesday 11 August 2009 at 6.00pm. 

The Cobras will suit up three special guest players; with former Cobras and Melbourne Tigers star Luke Kendall, his Tigers teammate Sam Mackinnon and former Cobra Brad Bridgewater all scheduled to line up against AJ Ogilvy and the Vanderbilt Commodores.