South Spotlight | Spectres survive Cobras in OT

Featured image: Shane Panther | @shanejpg.sport

The Nunawading Spectres saw a 25-point lead disappear and the Kilsyth Cobras got all the way up by four themselves late in the fourth quarter before in overtime it was the Spectres proving too strong for the 119-111 NBL1 South win.

With the Spectres still fighting for a top two spot and the Cobras hunting a home final, it was a tantalising Thursday night match up at Kilsyth Sports Centre.

The Spectres arrived on a four-game winning run and then led by 25 in the second quarter and still by 10 at three quarter-time only for the Cobras to build on their momentum of a 30-point third term.

Kilsyth found themselves up four with two minutes to play before Nunawading answers with three-pointers to Ben Griscti and Dylan Penn before ultimately it was two missed free throws from Penn that kept scores level by the end of regulation.

The Spectres responded with 15 points to seven in the extra period to now sit at 16-5 for the season with five consecutive wins while the Cobras are 11-8.

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By the end of the 45 minutes of game time, Nunawading were still shooting at 57 per cent to the 47 from Kilsyth but the Cobras gave themselves a chance with the six extra shots and five more free throws while forcing the Spectres into 17 turnovers.

The win keeps Nunawading a chance at a top two finish with Dylan Penn shaking off missing those two late free throws to deliver another 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Owen Lobsinger also had 25 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals with 3/5 three-point shooting while Christian D'Angelo added 23 points, six boards and five assists, and Ben Griscti 14 points and eight rebounds.

It was a spirited showing from Kilsyth to fight back as they did with Chris Payton Jr finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four assists with 11/17 field goal shooting.

Angus Glover went just 3/11 from deep but had 24 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals with Malik McKinney adding 22 points, five assists, four boards, three steals and two blocks, Jamie Ahale 16 points and five assists, and Corey Jeffs 13 points and six rebounds.

It was a big Thursday night match up for both teams with Kilsyth trying to still book in a home final while the Spectres are still eyeing off a top two finish, and it was Nunawading starting on fire putting up 32 points to 24 in the first quarter.

Christian D'Angelo had 10 points for the Spectres while his team were shooting a scintillating 68 per cent from the field to the 44 from Kilsyth who did get eight points each from Angus Glover and Chris Payton Jr.

That lead blew out to 25 points in the second term for Nunawading and by half-time they were still leading 61-43 with D'Angelo up to 16 points with Owen Lobsinger adding 12 and Dylan Penn 10.

The Spectres were shooting at 66 per cent from the field still to 41 despite Glover and Payton Jr still combining for 22 points for the Cobras.

Kilsyth did manage 30 points to 22 in the third quarter on shooting 11/19 from the field with 4/7 from downtown and that set up a big finish.

The Cobras kept that momentum rolling and hit the front with Jamie Ahale hitting a huge three ball on the back of one from Glover that levelled scores up.

Payton Jr then threw down a dunk with just over two minutes left to give the Cobras a four-point edge but Nunawading responded with back-to-back triples of their own from Ben Griscti and Penn to be back up two with a minute on the clock.

Payton Jr answered when he scored on an offensive rebound and then missed free throws from Penn up the other end saw the game go to overtime.

Once it got to extra time, Nunawading took control once more with the knowledge they had blown a 25-point lead and couldn’t afford to lose and let a top two chance slip so they had 15 points to seven in the last five minutes to win by eight.

Kilsyth now look to bounce back on Saturday on the road to the Knox Raiders while the Spectres have just one game left before finals and that's next Saturday night at home to the Ballarat Miners.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | FIRST NATIONS ROUND

KILSYTH COBRAS 111 (Payton Jr 27, Glover 24, McKinney 22)

NUNAWADING SPECTRES 119 (Penn 31, Lobsinger 25, D'Angelo 23)