Posted on 28 May, 2009

After starting the season 1-4 the reigning champions looked to be in for a long season but with Knight directing his team led by star import Amy Denson the Lady Cobras have managed to fight their way into 4th place on the ladder.

Both Knight and Denson will be strong candidates for monthly awards should Kilsyth record their 7th win of the season Sunday.

Denson (20.2ppg, 10.4rpg) has been a standout for the Lady Cobras all season but it was the return to form of Sarah Parsons last weekend which should be a warning to the League.  Parsons (9.5ppg, 9.2rpg, 4.9 apg) went close to recording a triple double in both wins last weekend and after a slow start is beginning to lift her output.

The key for the Lady Cobras in their resurgence has been their balanced scoring across the team with Hayley Moffatt (9.7ppg), Clare Papavs (10.7ppg), (Erica McMenamin (7.1ppg) and Gemma Kerr (8.0ppg) all contributed to the Lady Cobras high scoring.

Brisbane will visit Kilsyth after playing Albury on Friday and Frankston on Saturday and will be minus their Australian Opal Emma Randall who was injured on the Opals recent tour to China.

After an embarrassing 35 point loss in Brisbane in Round 7, Kilsyth will be out for revenge in this important match up.

The Lady Cobras will tip off at 12.30pm on Sunday 31 May 2009.  Back the black in 2009 and get behind your Swinburne Kilsyth Lady Cobras.

The Cobras like their female counterparts got their season back on track last weekend with two wins over Dandenong and Sandringham.  The victories improved the Cobras to 7-8 on the season which sees them trail Knox 8-8 and Bendigo 8-7 on the ladder.

Coach Grant Wallace and the team knew their season was on the line last weekend and responded accordingly to record the wins.  The Cobras now have the opportunity to make a move up the ladder with two more wins this coming weekend.

Kilsyth will travel to Mt Gambier on Friday to take on the Pioneers (5-8) in what will be an important game for both teams.  Like the Cobras, Mt Gambier sit just outside the top 4 and will be keen to get back on the winners list after two losses last weekend.

The Cobras will need to be at their best defensively to contain the explosive Pioneers line up.  Andrew Rice, Kevin Smith, Dallas Jeffree and Keith Benjamin are all playing well for Mt Gambier.

Rice will be keen to avenge a couple of poor performances against Cobras import Joe Werner in 2008 when he was playing for Albury/Wodonga.

Werner (18.3ppg, 13.3rpg) is beginning to find his form after a slow start, despite his numbers being down on 2008 he has increased his range from the field and last weekend went 5/5 from behind the arc. Werner along with Chris Cameron (17.8ppg) and newly signed Tim Lang will need to come up big if the Cobras are again going to record the win.

Following their Friday night game, the Cobras will return home on Sunday to take on the Ballarat Miners (4-11).  Despite their record the Miners have played some quality basketball in 2009 on the back on imports Rishawn Norwood (25.9ppg, 5.9rpg) and Jamal Brown (20.4ppg, 12.1).

The Cobras need this win more than most as both teams fight for spots in the East playoffs.  Last years game at Kilsyth nearly turned into a brawl after former Miners import took a cheap shot at Adam Jackson behind play.  Despite Toney El being released at the end of last season, the emotions will still be running high between these two rivals.

Gerard Leonard (15.9ppg) had a quiet one last weekend and will surely step up for the Cobras. Matt Shanahan (12.2ppg) has found his role within the team and will be required to produce his solid contribution.  Captain DJ Taylor who went 8/8 from the free throw line in the 4th quarter against Dandenong last week continues to play well and 400 games looks within reach for this veteren Cobra.

The Cobras will take on Mt Gambier at 8.00pm on Friday – check out www.seabl.com.au for Live stats. While Ballarat will visit on Sunday 31 May 2009 with tip off scheduled at 2.30pm.  Get down to the Kilsyth Sports Centre this weekend and Back the Black!