Supercats aiming to spoil Pioneers' party

GEELONG United women’s coach Matt Paton and his side are excited to take on the Mount Gambier Pioneers for a third time during the NBL1 South’s qualifying final, with both sides splitting the season series in 2023.

Paton acknowledged the quick five-day turnaround and four-hour drive to and from South Australia for tomorrow night’s (July 21) Week 1 final against Mount Gambier, but the third-placed Supercats are aiming for nothing less than securing a home preliminary final in Geelong.

“Friday will involve two very proud clubs going hammer and tongs at each other for 40 minutes,” Paton said.

“There’s not really too much that can be extrapolated from our two previous meetings with Mount Gambier, but we’re fully aware that we’re coming in as underdogs.”

Eve Braslis and the Supercats finished 2023 in third position with 16 wins and six losses.

Geelong United defeated Mount Gambier in Round 5 at home 85-74.

The Pioneers were without star shooter Cassandra Brown, Miela Goodchild, and star centre Zitina Aokuso in that contest.

Mount Gambier returned the favour in Round 11 in South Australia, with a 94-59 demolition of the Supercats behind Brown’s 39-point, seven-rebound performance.

Geelong United’s Chantel Horvat (Australia) and Monica Okoye (Japan) were absent from that match due to FIBA Asia Cup commitments.

“Any team can beat anyone on any given night, and the season is basically a blank slate at this stage,” Paton said.

“With players coming back into both sides it’s actually quite exciting there is no precedent to draw on before tip-off.

“We know we will have our hands full with the Pioneers, but the exact same thing can be said the other way as well.”

First-year Supercat Ella Tofaeono was absent from Geelong United’s Ballarat clash in Round 13 due to rest, but the Texas Tech University product returned for nine points and 8.5 rebounds per game last weekend against Keilor and Waverley.

Ella Tofaeono (right) will play a crucial role in Friday’s clash against Mount Gambier.

Tofaeono is likely to matchup on Zitina Aokuso Friday and Supercats young gun Georgia Cox will be a game-time decision.

Paton praised his side’s mental fortitude for its 16-win, six-loss regular season.

“I think if you look at the various instances of adversity that this team has gone through over the 2023 season, and I get that most teams go through some challenges, but this year we’ve had a few more hurdles laid out in front of us,” Paton said.

“But how the players have responded to adversity this season makes me extremely proud, everyone in the program, coaches, team managers, trainers, and anyone with a connection to this squad.

“We think we have a squad that can make a really deep run in the finals and we obviously consider ourselves a contender.”