Matchups between the junior varsity basketball teams of Cochrane and Bow Valley High continue to be the hottest sports ticket in town.

Last night, Feb. 6, the Cobras and Bobcats had another seesaw battle that went to the buzzer and saw the Cobras come out on top, 52-50.

The Bobcats made up an early shortfall to come within two points at the half, 29-27. They then took the lead in third and held it until 5:23 of the fourth when the Cobras went ahead 44-43. The lead teetered back and forth and they were never more than a few points apart until Alyssa Patterson sank a three-pointer that put the Cobras ahead for good, 51-49, with nine seconds in regulation The teams exchanged free throws but the Bobcats weren't able to make up the two points to force overtime.

Cobras head coach Tim Knitter says they may have won, but were outplayed by the Bobcats and says the cross-town rival team has been improving as the season progresses. He says it was the first time his team has gone into a game nervous this season.

"I wasn't super excited with our play in the fourth quarter but when it comes down to it the girls made the right choice and we ended up finishing and being successful."

"That was an excellent shot by Alyssa Patterson and it was exactly what we needed from her. The girls were very, very excited. It was absolutely fantastic. I wish I could say I drew it up, but I didn't."

Bobcats head coach Kris Nielson believes his squad was the better team and missing four or five layups in the last three-four minutes of the game was the difference.

"I thought we played 10 points better. I thought that was one of our best-played games of the year as far as full execution from start to finish."

He believes they have been the better team in all three matchups this season and winning one of these tight ones will take them to the next level.

"They just got to win one really big one and the floodgates will open and then the skies the limit."

He is convinced there was an uncalled double gather on the three-pointer game-winning shot and said the same happened in their last matchup. But doesn't bemoan the point.

"It was certainly a double gather and that is called 99 per cent of the time and today it wasn't. But it is what it is. Referees will call it the way it is and you live by their decisions right to the end of the season."

"They've gotten lucky three times in a row, so their luck's going to run out at some point."

The play of the Bobcats is much more aggressive than in their first game against the Cobras in the Cochrane Classic in December.

"We attack better, we don't fade away on shots, we really going after it and I think that's one of the big improvements on our season," says Nielson.

Still, Cobras are number one in the division and remain undefeated in five. They clinched first in the Rocky View with last night's win going into the final week of the regular season.

That's great, says Coach Knitter, but the team knows there's a long road ahead.

"As a team, we have our goals and finishing first was one of them. The girls know it's success, but we need to keep working," says Knitter. "It certainly is nice to be recognized that we finished first, but we know we're going to have some tough games against Bow Valley and Croxford in the near future."

The Cobras end their regular season play at home against Bert Church next Tuesday.

The Bobcats are currently third and are on the road, Feb 13, in Chestermere and have only lost to second place W. H. Croxford and the Cobras.

Both the Cobras and Bobcats are in an Okotoks tournament this weekend, but it's a tough one. There are lots of tier one schools in the mix and it's uncertain if the Bobcats and Cobras will be facing each other. That might be a good thing.

"I can honestly say I don't want to play Bow Valley this weekend," says Knitter. "I think they're a really good team right now and I think we both need a break from each other."

The intensity of the matches have been great for building the Cochrane basketball culture and there's a growing number of people following the junior varsity teams with keen interest.

"I've had kids in my classes come up and ask me about the games," says Knitter. "I love competition and what it does is build a culture and involves the community in the game and that's really exciting."

In other RVS play last night, the senior varsity girls' Cobras downed the Bobcats, 73-21. They continue to fire on all eight and are building momentum leading into the playoffs. Undefeated Chestermere is on top of their division.