KILSYTH Cobras star import Ellie Manou put in a strong game against the Japanese national team in an international friendly last week.
But despite Manou’s 25 points and 12 rebounds it was not the Cobras’ night, going down 93-70 in front of a home crowd at Kilsyth Sports Centre.
Kilsyth took it up to the talented Japanese side in the first quarter trailing by just five points at quarter-time.
The Cobras were able to restrict the explosive Japanese early in the contest and held their favoured three-point shooting 40 per cent.
Despite having beaten most teams in their practice matches by more than 40 points, Japan was given a run for their money with the Cobras holding it to just 17 points in the second term.
Yoshie Sakurada and Hiromi Suwa both found their range in the third term and helped their team outscore the Cobras 31-19 for the quarter to extend the margin to 15 at the final change.
With some tired legs the Cobras continued to fight hard but they were again outscored in the final term 23-15 to go down by 23 points.