Kilsyth led the game early in the game before 10 first quarter points from the Miners' Kuany Kuany helped Ballarat lead by as many as 13 in the first half.

The game was much for of a grind than usual for the Miners as the size of the Cobras proved difficult to score over. This became evident in the third quarter when Kilsyth switched to a zone defence, forcing the Miners to unsuccessfully bomb away from the three-point line.

The Cobras strong defence allowed them to slowly work their way back into the game, eventually tying the score early in the fourth quarter.

It would not be enough in the end as the shooting ability and athleticism of the Miners was on full show down the end of the game. Sam Short worked aggresivley against the Cobras zone, hitting some big shots in the final quarter while Josh Fox skied above the rim for rebounds and dunks.

Ballarat would end up outscoring the Cobras in the fourth quarter 31-17 and ultimately win the game 87-71.

The Miners will not have long to rest before their next game as they travel to Eltham for their fifth straight road game on Sunday afternoon.

The Ballarat Rush have once again fallen in the NBL1, losing their sixth consecutive game to open the season against the Kilsyth Cobras, going down 88-66.

It was a back and forth game for the majority of the first quarter before some hot shooting by the Cobras extended their lead to eight points heading into the second term.

Ballarat were able to match the Cobras scoring wise in the second quarter but were simply outclassed in the second half.

Ballarat's starters put their best foot forward in trying to match the Cobras output, with four of the five scoring in double figures. Georgia Amoore top scored for the Rush, registering 14 points.

The Rush had no answer for Cobras guard Lauren Nicholson who torched the Ballarat defence en-route to a 32-point performance.

Kilsyth stifled all hopes of a Ballarat comeback in the fourth quarter, holding them to 15 points and forcing multiple turnovers.

Ballarat will not have long to recover and adjust as they will take on the Eltham Wildcats on the road on Sunday morning.

DETAILS:

BALLARAT MINERS: 26,18,12,31 (87)

KILSYTH COBRAS: 23,16,15,17 (71)

SCORERS: Miners - Evans Jr 22 (3 three-pointers), Kuany 20 (2), Fox 19 (1), Short 16 (2), Acouth 8, Coleman 2. Cobras - Turner 20 (3), Hooley 12 (1), Macdonald 11 (3), Odigie 9 (1), Smith-Milner 8 (1), Patton 5, Ursich 3, Von Hofe 3 (1).

STATS:

REBOUNDS - Miners 52, Cobras 37

ASSISTS - Miners 11, Cobras 11

STEALS - Miners 7, Cobras 4

BLOCKS - Miners 4, Cobras 1

TURNOVERS - Miners 9, Cobras 9

FOULS - Miners 16, Cobras 20

FINAL SCORE

BALLARAT RUSH: 15,19,17,15 (66)

KILSYTH COBRAS: 23,19,21,25 (88)

SCORERS: Rush - Amoore 14 (1 three-pointer), Cochrane 13, Burke 12 (1), Hackman 12, Blower 6, Jenkins 5 (1), Taylor 3 (1), Collins 1. Cobras - Nicholson 32 (1), Boothe (1), Wischer 15, Downie 10, Haberfield 6, Tessari 3 (1), Fryters 3.

STATS:

REBOUNDS - Rush 35, Cobras 44

ASSISTS - Rush 12, Cobras 20

STEALS - Rush 6, Cobras 9

BLOCKS - Rush 1, Cobras 3

TURNOVERS - Rush 18, Cobras 12

FOULS - Rush 21, Cobras 15