KNOX WIN BATTLE OF THE ASHES
Monday, July 23, 2012
Both Knox Under Armour Raiders SEABL teams have enjoyed convincing wins over arch-rival Kilsyth in the Battle of the Ashes on Saturday night.
The Raiders women who have only lost the one game in 2012 faced the second place Cobras, victory just about securing them top position for the finals beginning 18th August.
It was another customary slow start for the Raiders, trailing for most of the first quarter before Emily Fryters and Rachael Quirk scored late in the term to put Knox ahead at the first break 16-14.
The Raiders went 8-0 to open the second quarter to lead by 10, but Kilsyth were not blown away clawing their way back to a five point deficit by half-time.
It was another low-scoring third quarter, with Knox only extending their half-time margin by two points to lead 40-33 at three-quarter-time.
Jess May’s three early in the final term got the ball rolling for Knox, with Amy Denson following it up with four quick points.
Sam Donald’s three with less than a minute left put the icing on the cake, Knox victorious 54-41.
Kelly Wilson finished with the impressive stat-line of 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Denson and Fryters were the other Raiders’ to score in double figures.
The Raiders men had another important game in their 2012 campaign, with the Cobras trying to make a push for finals in the South Conference.
Going score-for-score in the first quarter, it was Knox’s defensive effort in the second and third quarters that provided them with a 16-point lead going into the final term.
The Raiders only conceded a total of 23 points over the second and third, forcing Kilsyth to shoot a sub-standard 31 per cent from the field during those quarters.
CJ Massingale continued his hot form, with seven quick points to start the final term taking his total to 28 for the game, and giving the Raiders an insurmountable lead.
Simon Grant’s score with seconds remaining extended Knox to a 22-point win, their biggest margin for the game in the 83-61 victory over their nemesis.
Mick Hill finished with 20 points, scoring back-to-back 20-plus point games for the first time this season, whilst Lester Strong’s 16 points and nine rebounds were also influential in the convincing win.
Still behind Nunawading on the ladder with a game in hand, Knox have an extremely important double-header approaching travelling to Bendigo on Friday night before facing Frankston in the second leg of the Hog’s Breath Cup on Saturday night away from home.
A win in both games for the Knox men should cement a finals berth, for the Knox women it would mean cementing top position and a home final.