Posted on 14 August, 2017

The Kilsyth Lady Cobras tipped-off their postseason in style, defeating the Geelong Supercats, 74-66, at home in Jordyn O’Shea’s 200th SEABL game to advance to the East Conference Championship Game in two week’s time.

The back-to-back conference champions will now be playing-off for a berth in the National Championship Game for the third straight season, with a dominant fourth quarter defensive effort securing the win this time around.

Kilsyth held the Supercats to just two points over the final four minutes of play, closing the game on a 12-2 run to secure the win. Trailing, 54-56 entering the final period, the Lady Cobras reeled-off an 8-0 run to take a six point lead with just under seven minutes remaining. Geelong would fight back, though, responding with an 8-0 run of their own to reclaim the lead. But Emily Fryters responded with her third field goal of the quarter to spark the Lady Cobras game-clinching finish, with Angela Beadle, Chantella Perera and Maddie Garrick following with consecutive baskets to put the game out of reach.

It was an impressive finish to the game for Coach Sam Woosnam’s team, with the Lady Cobras clinching another home Conference Final on O’Shea’s milestone evening.

“We are very pleased to be hosting the Conference Final for the second consecutive season,” Woosnam said.

“Not only that, but it was great to get the win on our home court for Jordy’s 200th SEABL game.”

The Lady Cobras were on fire early on, scoring 20 points over the final five minutes of the opening period to take a 24-19 lead after ten minutes of play. Beadle led Kilsyth’s explosive early offence, dominating down low en-route to 14 first quarter points as the undersized Supercats had no answer for the league’s MVP.

But Geelong would put the clamps on defensively in the second period, holding Kilsyth to just nine points, while Sarah Blicavs and Isabella Brancatisano caught fire from the perimeter to score all 17 Supercats points for the quarter. It was a see-saw affair from there on out, until the Lady Cobras broke the game open late to win an extremely intense and physical first round final.

“Going into the game we knew it would be tough and physical and that’s exactly what it was,” Woosnam said.

“We started off great then had an average second quarter, but we were able to make the adjustments needed at half time and came out of the locker room and got it done.”

Beadle led the Lady Cobras with game-highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds, Garrick added 20 points and seven assists, and Perera finished with another impressive all-around stat line, recording 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the win. The key to the Lady Cobras victory was the big night off the bench from Fryters, though, with the veteran recording a 10-point, 10-rebound double double in just her third game back from injury following a two month hiatus.

“Everyone made some great contributions on the night,” Woosnam said.

“Angela, Maddie and Channy (Perera) were their normal self and put us in the position to win the game. Emily Fryters was huge off the bench, obviously with her defence that we’re accustomed to seeing, but for also scoring ten points, all at crucial times in the game.”

The win now sees the Lady Cobras earn a weekend’s rest, with a home Conference Final to follow on Saturday August 26. With a near-sellout crowd on hand for Saturday’s win, Woosnam was appreciative of the booming atmosphere the hometown crowd created, and hopes for something even bigger when they play for a national title berth.

“Thank you to the huge crowd and we hope to see you all again in two weeks time!”