Mixed opening weekend for Pioneers

IT WAS a mixed opening round on the road for the Pioneers with the men’s team opening their account with two emphatic victories, while the undermanned women were humbled by Geelong United and Keilor Thunder.

Akech Aliir led the way for the Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers as the team made a statement on the road to open their NBL1 South season with that 108-58 victory against Geelong United.

The Pioneers finished two games clear in top spot at the end of last season but failed to reach the NBL1 South Grand Final after their semi final loss to the Eltham Wildcats and they came out firing – a team with unfinished business and something to prove.

The 32-12 opening quarter scoreline was a sign of things to come with the lead ballooning out to as high as 27 points in the second quarter before blowing out to that 50 point final margin.

Unsurprisingly the stats sheet was heavily in favour of the visiting Pioneers, leading rebounds 49-29, shooting at 51.5 per cent from the field to Geelong’s 34.9, with the 28 from 30 from the charity stripe for the Pioneers clearly outshining United’s seven from 12.

Hot on the heels of being part of Melbourne United’s NBL Championship Series, Aliir delivered 31 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists in the win for Mount Gambier.

Joe Palmer also put up 17 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, Austin Shelley 15 points, five boards, three assists and three steals, Titus Robinson 15 points and nine rebounds, and Alex Mudronja 12 points, three boards and two assists.

Palmer top scored in the 100-76 Keilor victory, also picking up 12 rebounds, with the Pioneers again getting off to a strong start, setting up the win with a 52-34 opening half.

Shelley and Robinson were also significant contributors – Shelley putting up 20 points and Robinson 18.

Much less to celebrate for the OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers Women had an opening round to forget suffering a 40 point loss at the hands of United.

The home side started strongly against the 2024 preliminary finalists, with the 27-15 opening quarter laying the foundation for the comfortable victory.

Geelong then turned things up another level again in the second half with 31 points to 15 in the third term, and 33 to 24 in the fourth on the way to the statement 40-point triumph.

Cat MacGregor is a significant signing and showed how valuable she will be with 18 points and three assists with skipper Isabella Brancatisano providing 14 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists, and Edie Easterby 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Adding insult to injury, skipper Brancatisano suffered a late game injury and was then unavailable for the Keilor clash with the women suffering another heavy loss going down 70-100.

Haliegh Reinoehl stepped into the leadership role and led from the front with 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, while in a good sign for the future Easterby backed up her Saturday night performance with 11 points and four rebounds, with Mackenzie Burke putting up 17 points and pulling in three rebounds.

Both teams are now preparing for the first home game of the season at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre against Casey Cavaliers on Friday night.

PHOTOS BY FRANK MONGER