Pure pass: Kilsyth's Jordyn O'Shea gets a pass away against Knox on Saturday night. Picture: Lucy Di Paolo
KILSYTH Cobras women will host the South East Australian Basketball League south conference grand final.
The Cobras beat arch-rivals Knox Raiders 66-60 at the State Basketball Centre on Saturday night, earning the right to host the conference decider at Kilsyth Sports Centre on September 1 or 2.
The Raiders will face Nunawading in the conference preliminary final at the State Basketball Centre this Saturday night.
The Cobras and Raiders exchanged leads throughout the first half before the Cobras snuck out to a 51-45 three-quarter-time lead.
The Cobras used a physical defensive effort along with some well-run offensive sets to extend their lead to 10 points in the final term behind a run of seven straight points from centre Kristen Barnes (18 points, nine rebounds).
But the Raiders fought back in the final minutes, getting within five points of the Cobras before the visitors held strong to come out with the win.
Cobras coach Peter Gay said his side had done well to wrestle back home court advantage.
"It's good for the girls. We set ourselves the goal of getting a conference home grand final and we've done that," he said.
"It will be exciting for the girls and considering how hot it was in here tonight it will be good to be back on our home court in the final."
Gay praised his players for getting hold of a decisive lead so late in the game and holding off the Raiders.
"You have to respect them. They are a good side.
"I think the key for us was to play positive right to the end of the game and not to play just to run time of the clock."
Hayley Moffat had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Cobras and Gemma Kerr had 11 points and four assists.
Amy Denson led the Raiders with 15 points and Kelly Wilson had 14 points.