South Spotlight | Wildcats beat Cobras to stay second

It was a wild game of two halves but the Eltham Wildcats did enough to secure the 93-83 win over the Kilsyth Cobras to stay solid in NBL1 South second position to open the last round of the regular season.

The Wildcats entered the last round of the regular season a game clear in second position ahead of hosting the out of contention Cobras on Friday night at Montmorency Secondary College.

Eltham then took control with 30 points to nine in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 47-23 on the back of shooting 48 per cent from the field to 29 and forcing Kilsyth into 12 turnovers.

Even though the Wildcats still secured the eventual 10-point win, the Cobras outscored them 60 points to 46 in the second half on shooting 21/40 to the 14/31 from the home team.

Eltham still improve to the 16-5 record to stay in second place while Kilsyth have lost their past couple to be 7-14 with both teams having one game to go in the regular season.

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Eltham completely dominated the first half leading 47-23 but then it was Kilsyth winning the second 60-46, and by the end of the night not a whole lot separated the teams with the Wildcats shooting 47 per cent 41 from the Cobras but the home team went 19/23 at the foul line to 11/15.

The Wildcats remain solid in second spot with the win with Sara-Rose Smith delivering 16 points, eight rebounds and thee assists with Lil Dart adding 16 points, five assists and four boards.

Mackenzie Smith also had 14 points, three assists and two rebounds, Bec Pizzey 10 points and four boards, Jayde Cadee nine points and three rebounds, and Sarah Elsworthy nine points, eight boards, five assists and five steals.

It's the second last game of the season for Kilsyth but they will take heart from the second half with Emme Shearer producing 26 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks with 5/11 shooting from the outside.

Georgia McBean also had 14 points, five assists and three rebounds, Nikita Young 13 points, five boards and two assists, Catelyn Van Es 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists, and Kylie Horstmeyer 10 points and three boards.

All the Wildcats have to do is keep winning and they are guaranteed to end the regular season in second place ahead of hosting the out of contention Cobras, and it was a struggle for both teams in the first quarter.

Eltham were leading 17-14 by quarter-time on 33 per cent shooting with the Cobras going 35 per cent with Catelyn Van Es having six points and five rebounds.

The Wildcats then found their offensive groove in the second quarter with 30 points on 13/21 shooting while also forcing the Cobras into 10 turnovers and holding them to nine points on 4/18 shooting.

After scoring just 23 points the entire first half, Kilsyth did manage 28 in the third quarter on 11/21 shooting but up the other end Eltham still put up 26 themselves to be in control still 73-51 by three quarter-time.

The Cobras had found some confidence and had another 32 points on 10/19 shooting in the fourth quarter but the Wildcats still had enough of a buffer to hold on for the 10-point win to stay solid in second position.

The Wildcats will now wrap up their regular season away to the Melbourne Tigers while Kilsyth will attempt to avoid finishing lost their past three when they host the Bendigo Braves.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 15

ELTHAM WILDCATS 93 (Dart 16, S Smith 16, M Smith 14)

KILSYTH COBRAS 83 (Shearer 26, McBean 14, Young 13)

South Spotlight | Wildcats beat Cobras to stay second

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By Chris Pike for NBL1.com.au

The Eltham Wildcats dominated the first half and held out the Kilsyth Cobras in the second for the 10-point last round NBL1 South win.

Featured image: Michael Farnell @sportsimageryau

It was a wild game of two halves but the Eltham Wildcats did enough to secure the 93-83 win over the Kilsyth Cobras to stay solid in NBL1 South second position to open the last round of the regular season.

The Wildcats entered the last round of the regular season a game clear in second position ahead of hosting the out of contention Cobras on Friday night at Montmorency Secondary College.

Eltham then took control with 30 points to nine in the second quarter to go into half-time leading 47-23 on the back of shooting 48 per cent from the field to 29 and forcing Kilsyth into 12 turnovers.

Even though the Wildcats still secured the eventual 10-point win, the Cobras outscored them 60 points to 46 in the second half on shooting 21/40 to the 14/31 from the home team.

Eltham still improve to the 16-5 record to stay in second place while Kilsyth have lost their past couple to be 7-14 with both teams having one game to go in the regular season.

>> ELLIS LIVING THE DREAM AND LIKES EAGLES CHANCES

>> SOUTH WRAP | WOMEN'S ROUND 14

Eltham completely dominated the first half leading 47-23 but then it was Kilsyth winning the second 60-46, and by the end of the night not a whole lot separated the teams with the Wildcats shooting 47 per cent 41 from the Cobras but the home team went 19/23 at the foul line to 11/15.

The Wildcats remain solid in second spot with the win with Sara-Rose Smith delivering 16 points, eight rebounds and thee assists with Lil Dart adding 16 points, five assists and four boards.

Mackenzie Smith also had 14 points, three assists and two rebounds, Bec Pizzey 10 points and four boards, Jayde Cadee nine points and three rebounds, and Sarah Elsworthy nine points, eight boards, five assists and five steals.

It's the second last game of the season for Kilsyth but they will take heart from the second half with Emme Shearer producing 26 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks with 5/11 shooting from the outside.

Georgia McBean also had 14 points, five assists and three rebounds, Nikita Young 13 points, five boards and two assists, Catelyn Van Es 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists, and Kylie Horstmeyer 10 points and three boards.

All the Wildcats have to do is keep winning and they are guaranteed to end the regular season in second place ahead of hosting the out of contention Cobras, and it was a struggle for both teams in the first quarter.

Eltham were leading 17-14 by quarter-time on 33 per cent shooting with the Cobras going 35 per cent with Catelyn Van Es having six points and five rebounds.

The Wildcats then found their offensive groove in the second quarter with 30 points on 13/21 shooting while also forcing the Cobras into 10 turnovers and holding them to nine points on 4/18 shooting.

After scoring just 23 points the entire first half, Kilsyth did manage 28 in the third quarter on 11/21 shooting but up the other end Eltham still put up 26 themselves to be in control still 73-51 by three quarter-time.

The Cobras had found some confidence and had another 32 points on 10/19 shooting in the fourth quarter but the Wildcats still had enough of a buffer to hold on for the 10-point win to stay solid in second position.

The Wildcats will now wrap up their regular season away to the Melbourne Tigers while Kilsyth will attempt to avoid finishing lost their past three when they host the Bendigo Braves.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 15

ELTHAM WILDCATS 93 (Dart 16, S Smith 16, M Smith 14)

KILSYTH COBRAS 83 (Shearer 26, McBean 14, Young 13)