He's a Kil-ler: The young sharpshooter of the COE Evan Kilminster starred over the weekend with an accumulative 50 points with plenty of sniping behind the arc. Photo supplied by Picture IT Sports Photography
COE vs Norwood Flames
Young talent time COE close it in fourth against Flames
The COE took till the final quarter to shake the equally young Flames as they shot their way to a 77-100 win at the Firedome. The scores were tight still with just over 6 minutes to go at 72-76 before the COE reeled off an impressive 5-24 run to finish off the Flames. They shot 71 percent from beyond the arc in the final term led by Ben Henshall off the pine with 15 points but the start of the night was Evan Kilminster with 26 points at 60 percent including 6 of 7 from beyond the arc and 10 assists. Backing that up was the surprise return of NBA Global Academy representative Alex Toohey with 9 points and Rory Hawke with 19 points and 5 assists. The Flames sat Lycett and Harding out of this one were led by U20 star Luca Barei with 16 points and 5 rebounds and a not so young Daniel Webber with 12 points. Both Janssan brothers Aydan and Ben contributed a solid stat-line combining for 17 points in an encouraging showing.
COE vs Sturt Sabres
The COE backed it up the next day but were challenged by the Sturt Sabres 73-77 at the Cave. The COE got off to a flyer leading 39-48 at the half before the Sabres hit back through Hayden Meakes who finished with 18 points off the bench to really give the home side a boost. The Sabres closed the margin to a single basket with Jack Turnbull draining the triple which was returned by Hawke then sealed by Kilminster in a close finish. Adelaide Waatu’s Harry Reemst came off the bench for 8 points and 8 assists along with teammate Nick Fassos for 8 points of his own with plenty of second division Sabres seeing court-time including Tom Goodall, Matt Rule, Robbie Brennan and Toby Hunt. Kilminster finished an explosive weekend with 24 points and in his weekend return Toohey dropped 20 points to lead all comers.
That wraps up the NBL1 Central Wildcard round for NBL1 Central with the situation as it stands in the Men. If the Logan Thunder (currently 5th in NBL1 North), Perry Lakes Hawks (9th sitting just outside the Eight in NBL1 West) and Forestville Eagles (currently 2nd) don’t win the final in their respective league, then the sixth team in the National finals to be held in September will be Logan Thunder unless they don’t make the finals. As per league rules qualification into the National Finals requires the winner to also qualify for their own conference finals. In the event that they do not qualify or are the eventual conference champion, the qualification will be awarded to the next highest qualifying team. Keeping this in mind the COE’s remaining run is against NBL1 East Manly Warringh Sea Eagles (10th), Sutherland Sharks (8th) and Norths Bears (5th) and NBL South Waverly Falcons (8th) and Frankston Blues (7th).
That means from an NBL1 Central perspective the Eagles are still a chance to be in the National finals if they don’t take out the championship here in SA…
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 