Cobras still up and down

KILSYTH Cobras once again failed to build momentum after a 85-72 loss to the Frankston Blues.
The Cobras have four games remaining and remarkably still have the opportunity to move into second with Knox losing its second straight game.
In what was billed as a battle between the League’s premier post players, David Gruber (21pts, 8rbds) again came out on top against the Cobras’ Joe Werner (14, 11).
Leonard (19) continued his offensive resurgence but with Tim Lang (13, 6) the only other player in double figures the Cobras made it hard for themselves.
Frankston began well in the opening term building an early eight-point lead with Rob Kampman (18, 7) and Gruber combining well at the offensive end. Despite struggling to guard Lang the Blues were able to build a lead restricting the other Cobras. Matt Shanahan (9) hit a half court shot at the buzzer to cut the margin to three.
Kilsyth applied the straps in the second term restricting the Blues to just 17 points for the quarter but were only able to score 15 of their own as the margin returned to five at the long break.
Leonard had seven points in the opening three minutes of the third and after two free throws from Quincy Henderson (7, 10) the Cobras held the lead for the first time in the match.
The Cobras relinquished their defensive pressure soon after with Mitch Chapman (16) and Gruber taking advantage, closing the quarter out with six points each to extend the lead to nine at the final change. Kilsyth again tried hard to overcome the deficit with Leonard again providing the spark but the Blues rebounded hitting three consecutive bombs from behind the arc to push the margin back out to 12 and hand the Cobras their 12th loss of the season. The Cobras now travel to Geelong next weekend for a meeting with the Supercats before returning home on Sunday 26 July to take on the AIS at 2.30pm.