Cobras seal Ashes win

By Ben Turner
KILSYTH Cobras took home a clean sweep of the Ashes Cup on the weekend against arch rivals the Knox Raiders.
In the first match of the cup, the Lady Cobras ended their seven-game home losing streak, overcoming the Raiders 86-76 and giving Kilsyth a 10-point lead in the Ashes.
A great team effort, led by Deanna Smith, helped the Cobras to their 12th win of the season.
Gemma Kerr, Ellie Manou, and Hayley Moffatt all supported Smith to help Kilsyth to the early lead in the Battle for the Ashes.
The opening term was a tough low-scoring affair, with Knox jumping out to an early nine-point lead but the Cobras quickly reeled back the margin and took a 14-13 lead into the second term.
The scoring opened up in the second quarter, but it was Kilsyth who gained the early ascendancy. The Cobras raced to a seven-point lead but not to be outdone, Amy Denson and Odette Andrews helped settle the ship for Knox.
The Raiders went on a 12-0 run and put Kilsyth on the back foot but some late free throws by Smith and a score on the final possession of the half allowed Kilsyth to take a one-point lead and the momentum into the second half.
The third quarter was to prove the difference with Kilsyth able to take their momentum from the first half and outscored the Raiders 27-18, taking a 10-point lead into the final term.
Both teams scored freely in the final term with the margin swelling out to as many as 15 points. Knox managed to get back to within eight points with two minutes remaining but Kilsyth iced the game from the free-throw line.
In the men’s match, the Cobras 15-point win over Knox sealed the win for the Ashes trophy.
Fernandez Lockett and Ryan Bathie were both back to their best at the offensive end against the Raiders, while Quincy Henderson again had the best of CJ Massingale.
Both teams battled for the lead in the opening term with Michael Hill helping Knox to a three-point lead with three minutes to play.
Back-to-back threes by Quincy Henderson saw the Cobras wrestle back the lead and Lockett and Bathie scored seven points in the final minute of the term to see the Kilsyth take a 22-14 lead at the first change.
Kilsyth used this momentum to build on its lead in the second quarter and after restricting the Raiders to just 31 points held a 13-point lead at half-time.
Bathie and Lockett made sure Kilsyth would win back the Ashes in the third term, with the lead swelling to 20.
The suffocating defensive pressure of the Cobras again restricted the Raiders to just 14 points for the quarter.
As everyone knew they would, Knox made a run at the Cobras in the final quarter and got to within eight points with six minutes still to play.
But Kilsyth quickly regained the momentum with Matt O’Hea and Tim Lang both getting to the free-throw line and finding the bottom of the hole.
O’Hea scored 12 points in the final six minutes of the game to ensure Kilsyth its 14th win of the season.
With the Ashes Trophy and Cystic Fibrosis Cup secure in the Kilsyth trophy cabinet for 2010, the Cobras will be looking to build further momentum during the final weeks of the regular season with the aim of filling the cabinet further during the post season.