Cobras Electrify on Junior Domestic Night
The Kilsyth Women commanded the game in the first quarter, with three-pointers by Abby O’Connor, Hannah Day, and Shannon Dufficy, catapulting the Cobras ahead of the Braves, 26-14.
Heading into the second quarter, the Cobras fought hard against the Braves, attacking the hoop, forcing turnovers, and driving to the basket.
Up one entering the second half, the Cobras didn’t back down, thanks to the unrelenting effort by Dufficy and Day. Day - an SCYC Scorpions junior - shone on Junior Domestic night, draining three three pointers in the second half, with her flurry of timely buckets keeping the Braves at bay. Day’s final triple, followed by a pair of nice interior finishes from Dufficy, pushed the Cobras lead to 70-61 with five minutes remaining, but the Braves would respond with one final push.
Bendigo caught fire with a quick 12-2 run, with a Cassidy McLean three pointer tying the game at 72 with just over two minutes remaining. O’Connor responded with a clutch putback finish to reclaim the lead for Kilsyth, and Dufficy’s quick hands forced a key Bendigo turnover, resulting in a Cobra fast break and free throws for Nikita Young. Young split the pair from the line to put Kilsyth ahead by three, but another Braves triple - this time from Jessica Smith - tied the game at 75. Dufficy came up big once again, drawing a foul down low with 35 seconds remaining and sinking a pair from the line as the back-and-forth continued.
The Braves weren’t done though, as Taisheka Porchia finished inside to tie the game for a third time in the final moments, and the Cobras called time with a chance to win the game. On Kilsyth’s ensuing possession, O’Connor missed a go-ahead three, but Dufficy - who else - outworked three Braves defenders to rip down a huge offensive rebound and draw yet another foul. Dufficy knew what she had to do—all eyes on her, two shots, one chance, one win. With the crowd watching with bated breath, Dufficy drained both free throws to cap a spectacular quarter on both ends. The Braves last second heave was off; buzzer sounded, the crowd erupted, and the Cobra women secured a thrilling 79-77 victory.
Following the women’s nail-biter finish, the Cobra men put on a show in a highlight-filled performance, defeating the Braves, 97-81. A physical grind early on, the Cobras found their groove late in the first period, with a monster putback dunk in transition from Dillon Stith followed by a stellar sequence from Ben Ursich, with the Cobra veteran stealing a last second inbound pass and draining a buzzer-beating three to tie the game after 10 minutes.
The Cobras ramped it up on both ends in the second quarter as they outscored the Braves by 10, with Adi Tomada leading the scoring charge with 13 second quarter points. A Khadim Sy lob dunk and Stith steal and fast break jam push extended the Cobras' lead to 46-38 going into the locker room, and they would continue to pour it on after main break. Coming out of the second half, Corey Jeffs caught fire with 15 points, beginning his tear with back-to-back deep three-pointers. Jeff’s dominant performance extended the Cobras' lead to 17 heading into the last ten minutes.
The Cobras ramped it up on both ends in the second quarter as they outscored the Braves by 10, with Adi Tomada leading the scoring charge with 13 second quarter points. A Khadim Sy lob dunk and Stith steal and fast break jam push extended the Cobras' lead to 46-38 going into the locker room, and they would continue to pour it on after main break. Coming out of the second half, Corey Jeffs caught fire with 15 points, beginning his tear with back-to-back deep three-pointers. Jeff’s dominant performance extended the Cobras' lead to 17 heading into the last ten minutes.
Stith and Sy brought it home late, with the big men owning the glass and carrying the scoring load as the Cobras cruised to a 16 point victory.
The Cobras return to home court on Saturday night for one of the biggest game nights of the season - Retro Night vs the Mt Gambier Pioneers. The annual throwback night will see the Cobras rocking 90’s uniforms, and fans are encouraged to wear their best 70’s, 80’s and 90’s outfits - with big prizes up for grabs and a chance to strut their stuff on the Retro Night catwalk. The Cobra Women tip-off proceedings at 5.30pm, followed by the Men at 7.30pm.
