South Spotlight | Glover shoots Cobras to road win

Featured image: Andrew Scherer / DLNQNT PHOTOGRAPHY

South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL star Angus Glover had 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Kilsyth Cobras to the come from behind 90-85 road NBL1 South win over the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

It was the quite the dramatic day and evening with the Cobras arrival to Mount Gambier delayed during the day due to troubles with the bus before getting to Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre, and then even with the tip-off pushed to 9pm local time, it started well after that.

Once it got started, Mount Gambier made a stunning start with 33 points in the first quarter with 18 of those courtesy of Deng Deng and the Pioneers were still leading by four points at half-time and then by three at three quarter-time.

But the Cobras then took charge with 24 points to 16 in the fourth quarter with 13 of those courtesy of Glover including three huge triples as he led his team to the eventual five-point victory on the road.

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It was a crucial win for Kilsyth to consolidate their top 10 spot and stop their losing slide with Glover shaking off a slow start to finish with 29 points, three assists and two rebounds with 7/15 three-point shooting.

Corey Jeffs also had 14 points, four rebounds and two steals, Chris Payton Jr 13 points, seven boards, two assists and two blocks, Malik McKinney nine points, Adrian Tomada eight points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Hamish MacDonald seven points and six boards.

The Pioneers couldn’t quite avoid the sixth straight defeat despite Alex Mudronja ending up with 27 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals with 10/11 free-throw shooting.

Deng Deng started on fire with the 18 first quarter points before ending the night with 26 to go with 14 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two assists on 4/9 three-point shooting.

Titus Robinson also had 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, and Lucas Gordon seven points and seven boards.

Mount Gambier remained at home trying to snap a five-game losing streak as they hosted a Kilsyth team who had gone through a horror day just trying to get into town for the Friday night match up.

The game then started well after the scheduled 9pm tip-off time with the women's game also suffering a significant delay after a nasty injury to Pioneers star Abby Prohaska.

The Pioneers were only just clinging to playoff contention with their losing streak and they started on fire with Deng Deng showing the way with 18 points on 4/5 three-point shooting in the first quarter.

Mount Gambier were leading 33-21 by quarter-time on the back of that but Kilsyth were still being efficient with 59 per cent shooting for their 21 points even with Angus Glover having just two points and going 1/4 from behind the three-point arc.

Deng then only managed another three points in the second quarter and Mount Gambier just the 17 on 5/15 shooting despite going 7/9 at the foul line.

Opposed to that, Kilsyth did manage 25 points with Glover having nine of those and they were shooting 50 per cent from the field and perhaps should have been leading had it not been for Adrian Tomada and Chris Payton Jr combining to go 3/10 at the free-throw line.

Mount Gambier were still clinging to the 50-46 advantage at half-time and then still 69-66 by three quarter-time and then Kilsyth managed to work their way on top in the last quarter.

The Pioneers remained within striking distance, though, and with 4.8 seconds left on the clock, it was a three-point game after a free-throw for the Cobras from Hamish MacDonald.

Mount Gambier needed a three to tie scores up coming out of a timeout, but never even got a shot up with a Ben Ursich steal from Kane de Wit and from there Glover hit two free throws and Kilsyth left with the five-point win.

Mount Gambier now hit the road next weekend against the Dandenong Rangers on Saturday and Nunawading Spectres on Sunday. Kilsyth also don't play again until next Saturday night when they are at home to the Diamond Valley Eagles.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 11

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 85 (Mudronja 27, Deng 26, Robinson 14)

KILSYTH COBRAS 90 (Glover 29, Jeffs 14, Payton Jr 13)