THE KILSYTH Cobras held off a fast-finishing Melbourne Tigers outfit to claim a five-point win in the Big V Youth League Championship Women’s at Kilsyth Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides entered the clash fresh off a win earlier in the round, with the Cobras besting the Casey Cavaliers by 20 points, while the Tigers had recorded a 25-point win over the Pakenham Warriors, so it was shaping as a tight contest.

It was a see-sawing affair in the opening frame, with both sides spending minutes in front and getting going offensively in the first period. Although the Tigers had managed to get their noses in front via a Hayley Cumming triple, the Cobras steadied in the minutes that followed, and led by four points at the first change.

The second quarter proved to be the defining period, with Melbourne unable to match Kilsyth’s production and falling behind on the scoreboard. The Tigers were held to just eight points for the entire term, as the Cobras lifted their intensity on the defensive end, leading by 14 points at the main change and taking complete control of the contest.

It was a much improved performance from the Tigers in the third quarter, with Melbourne looking a much better side on the back of some strong offensive work from Josie Agnew, who turned her team’s fortunes around and helped cut the deficit down to just eight points at three-quarter time, and injecting some life into the contest as a whole.

It was a back and forth affair to close out the match in the fourth quarter, with the Tigers continuing to make Kilsyth work for the win with another strong performance after halftime. The margin sat around three points for most of the term, and Melbourne drew within one point in the closing stages, before Georgia McBean and Hannah Day sealed the result with some clutch free throws.

Day was the star of the show with 27 points on 10/19 shooting from the field to go with her four rebounds, four assists and three steals in a tremendous individual performance. She had a huge say in the result of the game with her overall production and her composure down the stretch was incredibly important for the Cobras.

McBean had a strong game in her own right with 22 points, while Lily Exton‘s work on the glass was immense, pulling down 26 rebounds including 11 on the offensive end to go with 10 points and four assists in a huge showing in the frontcourt.

Tigers skipper Cumming was huge with 26 points for her side in an inspirational performance, while Agnew was also an excellent performer on the offensive end, posting 20 points of her own alongside six rebounds and four assists.

Across the courts

Bendigo (46) def. by Ringwood (78)
Kilsyth (56) def. Casey (36)
Pakenham (54) def. by Melbourne (89)
Waverley (70) def. by Diamond Valley (79)
Altona (81) def. Bulleen (52)
McKinnon (87) def. Bendigo (60)
Dandenong (107) def. Frankston (67)
Sandringham (70) def. by Nunawading (85)
Keilor (56) def. by Waverley (68)