At the conclusion of the 2015 season, we look back on how the teams from Kilsyth fared.
KILSYTH LADY COBRAS
Wins – 17
Losses – 5
Standing – 1st South Conference
Post-Season Results – lost to Dandenong (GF)
2013 result – 15 wins 9 losses, 4th South Conference
THE GOOD
Kilsyth owned the second best home record in the league at 9-2, helping them to their first Grand Final appearance since 2008. Sarah Parsons was one of four players in the team to average double figures, finishing her career in style with 11.7 points, ten rebounds and five assists per game while a triple-double (14 points, 12 boards, 10 assists) against Ballarat was a monumental effort. Their 51% conversion rate from inside the arc and 81% shooting from the free-throw line as a team were the best in the league and 8% and 10% above the competition average respectively.
THE BAD
The Lady Cobras were just 5-4 against fellow South Conference finalists which made their run to the Championship game tougher as they lost to Launceston by 12 at home in the regular season before falling by 18 to Bendigo in the Semi-Final.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
There is no greater standout than the SEABL MVP and Steph Cumming was rewarded for her remarkably consistent season. Her 20.8 points per game (at 47%) was the third highest in the league while she shot a league-best 89% from the free-throw line on 96 attempts. Her lowest output of the year was still 13 points while she also added 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Next Year
TEAM NEEDS
Replacing Parsons and her 250 games of experience will not be easy and although Chantella Perera can take some of the load, Kilsyth will still need to find someone who can hold down both the front and back court as Parsons did so well. Retaining Cassie Sant, who added much needed size under the rim will also be a necessary task in the off-season but coach Sam Woosnam has proven herself more than capable in the coaches role to succeed with whatever side she has.
LIKELY IMPROVEMENT
A return to Kilsyth next season for Rosie Moult would boost the side’s offensive capabilities in the absence of Parsons but a back injury that will keep her out of the current WNBL season could hamper things. Her numbers were down compared to her 2014, scoring four points less a game but at 183cm, the shooting forward has the ability to shut down one of the opposition’s most potent front-court players while still getting her shot at the other end.
GRADE – 9/10
KILSYTH COBRAS
Wins – 10
Losses – 14
Standing – 4th South Conference
Post-Season Results – lost to N-W Tasmania (SF)
2013 result – 14 wins 12 losses, 3rd South Conference
THE GOOD
Tim Lang and Auryn MacMillan combined for a solid 28 points and 17 rebounds per contest, forming one of the most formidable front court duo’s. A sweep of the Tasmanian road trip in Round 17 was a clutch performance to book a playoff position and Kyle Adnam provided arguably the highlight of the year when his buzzer-beating three banked in against Sandringham.
THE BAD
For the second straight year, Joel Naburgs suffered a season-ending injury which forced him to miss the playoffs and leave a 14.5 point per game hole in the back-court. Although they made the finals, their 10-14 record placed them in the bottom half of the ladder overall and would have seen them finish sixth in the much tougher East Conference.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Winning Australian Youth Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and making the All-SEABL team, Kyle Adnam secured his place as one of the league’s best point guards while also earning a spot in the NBL season with Melbourne. He was the league’s fifth-best three-point shooter (39%), hit the fourth most amount of free-throws (101) and led his club with 17.5 points and 3.8 assists a game. Improving his numbers across the board from his debut in 2014, Adnam is sure to be one of the stars to watch next year.
Next Year
TEAM NEEDS
MacMillan has headed overseas but a return for next season alongside Lang will be an optimal outcome for the Cobras. Their depth fell away beyond their starting five which is another area of focus for the off-season but Kilsyth have a strong junior program and should continue to filter youngsters through the system.
LIKELY IMPROVEMENT
Under the tutelage of MacMillan and Lang, the likes of Kieran Murphy are expected to grow during the off-season. At 201cm, Murphy already showed he can hold his own, even as a 22 year old, when he collected 13 points and five rebounds against the strong front court of Geelong this year.
In the spirit of reconciliation Basketball Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.