Knox import CJ Massingale gave the Raiders their only lead of the match 76-75, when he hit a three-pointer with less than a second remaining in the game.

Massingale (41 points) exploded in the final minute of the match as he and Ryan Bathie traded potential game-winning baskets.

Massingale tied the game up with 50 seconds remaining before Bathie returned fire to give the Cobras a three-point buffer.

Massingale then made the impossible shot over the outstretched hand of Quincy Henderson (12 points, six rebounds). The basket again evened the scores with 16 seconds remaining.

Bathie returned fire quickly for the Swinburne Cobras, hitting a mid-range jumper with 3.8 seconds on the clock.

A Knox timeout was followed by Massingale's third straight three. Kilsyth made a last-ditch effort in the fraction of a second remaining.

Kilsyth had opened the game in red-hot form, racing to a 31-15 lead in the opening term.

Matt O'Hea (20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists) and Auryn MacMillan (18 points) were both perfect from the field in the opening term.

Knox regained its composure in the second quarter, slowing down the high-scoring Cobras, but neither team could sustain the momentum as Kilsyth took a 50-34 lead into the half-time break.

Kilsyth struggled at the offensive end early in the third term but managed to restrict the Raiders' impact on the scoreboard.

Despite the defensive pressure, Michael Hill (13 points), Lester Strong (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Massingale had the Raiders within 10 points at the final change.

The Cobras held the lead for the entire final term until Massingale made his final three with the Raiders outscoring Kilsyth 25-14 in the final term to return to the Conference Final.

Kilsyth captain and 400-game legend DJ Taylor's career also came to an end with the loss.

Kilsyth shot at 48 per cent from the field compared to 38 per cent from Knox but allowed the Raiders to convert 10 three-pointers, including seven from Massingale.