Home court losses for Pioneers

IT was a dominant second half from the Waverley Falcons that saw the Mount Gambier Pioneers men suffer a 25 point home court loss on Anzac Day,

Gabe Hadley, Malik Meunier, Miles Gibson and Matthew McCarthy combed for 87 points in the 110-85 win over the Pioneers.

The home side started well with an early eight-point lead and they were still up 30-24 by quarter-time, with the advantage whittled down to four by the main break.

It was then all Waverley in the third quarter with 32 points to 12 and then another 31 to 22 in the final term with the Falcons going on to secure the 25-point victory to improve to a 3-3 record.

The Pioneers are now 2-4 following the home defeat with Collin Moore producing 20 points, six rebounds and three assists with Ngor Manyang adding 20 points, three boards and two assists, Micale Mee 12 points and four rebounds, and Scott Telfer 10 points, six boards and three assists.

The Pioneers women also suffered a home court loss – outclassed by the Waverley Falcons, going down 86-59.

The Pioneers women were on a five game winning streak but after a tight opening quarter, the Falcons took control, going on an 11-0 run and by the main break, the lead was 19 for the Falcons.

That advantage blew out to 27 in the fourth quarter and that’s where it stayed, inflicting the Pioneers first loss of 2026.

It was a bad night for shooting from the hometown heroes, shooting just 31 per cent from te floor and hitting only two shots from beyond the arc from 14 attempts.

Kelsey Rees finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Abby Prohaska 13 points and six boards, Lara Edmanson 12 points and eight rebounds, Tilly Boler 10 points, three boards and two steals, and Carla Pitman eight points and eight rebounds.