Getting the job done at their new home

Mount Gambier Pioneers men & women remain undefeated in NBL1 South 2023 season

The OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers women remain undefeated early in the NBL1 South season as they dominated, the still winless Casey Cavaliers, 105-70, as the club played their first eve home fixtures at the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.

After a tight opening quarter, the home team took control to eventually secure the 35 point victory.

It was the Isabella Brancatisano show in her first outing in front of home fans, finishing with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, hitting six from 11 from three-point territory.

Skipper and 2022 MVP Cassandra Brown (bottom) was again influential adding 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while in a pleasing show of consistency there were contributions across the board – Miela Goodchild 17 points, four boards and three assists, Sherrie Calleia 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Haliegh Reinoehl 12 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists.

Jacinta Beckley top-scored for Casey with 18 points and seven rebounds with Rachel Bell adding 15 points and three boards, and Steph Blicavs 14 points and seven rebounds.

The Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers men also kept their undefeated start to the season intact, despite the stunning individual effort from Casey’s Malcolm Bernard, who had a massive night 41 points on 15 from 27 shooting from the floor, five from 10 from beyond the arc and a perfect six from six from the charity stripe.

The hometown victory was set up by a dominant first half that saw the Pioneers leading by 17 points at the main break and that was the final margin after the game descended into an arm wrestle in the second half.

Jacob Lampkin top-scored for the Pioneers with 22 points and eight rebounds with 2022 MVP Nick Marshall (top) delivering 20 points, eight boards, six assists and three steals, Julian Pesava 16 points and eight rebounds, and Chris Seeley 12 points, 11 boards and four assists.

It was a fitting performance given the game marked head coach Richard Hill’s 250th game in charge.

The Pioneers men and women will be back at Wulanda this Saturday night to take on Keilor.