Pioneers cemented in NBL1 South top four

Zitina Aokuso dominated as the Mount Gambier Pioneers kept winning in the NBL1 South on Friday night while the Pioneers men also beat the Hobart Chargers with Christian Peevy and Titus Robinson combining for 42 points.

The OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers women held off the Chargers in a critical home court victory 67-66.

With 2:30 to play the Chargers hit the front courtesy of a Zoe Richards three before Mount Gambier went to work from the charity stripe, surviving another late three from the visitors.

Isa Brancatisano hit two free throws to bring the Pioneers back within a point 30 seconds after the Richards shot and then Zoe Hurley scored with a minute to play to give the Pioneers a one-point edge before she also forced the turnover on Cierra Walker, and ultimately Haliegh Reinoehl was fouled going to the rack.

She made the first but missed the second although did grab the offensive rebound only to be fouled again, and this time made both to stretch the Pioneers lead back to four.

Jayda Jansen hit a three with a couple of seconds left to bring Hobart back within a point, but they had no time to force a foul and get one more look with Mount Gambier holding on to win.

The Pioneers did start strongly to lead by 11 at the first break, but it did then turn into a genuine arm wrestle with the teams trading baskets and refusing to allow any momentum or runs of points.

The win improved the Pioneers standing to 12-5 on the season with Aokuso a dominant presence finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots on 11/16 shooting.

Reinoehl also had 16 points and six rebounds, Sherrie Calleia 12 points, eight boards and five assists, and Samantha Fatkin five points and six rebounds.

Things were a little more comfortable for the Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers men as they elevated to top spot on the NBL1 South standings with a 26 point victory.

It was a tight contest in the opening period with Mount Gambier just clinging to the 26-25 advantage by quarter-time before the home team did pull away in the second stanza thanks to an 11-0 run that saw them go into the main break with a 53-42 advantage.

That blew out to a 20 point advantage in the third stanza before powering home to record that 96-70 victory.

The win improved the men’s record to 13-4 with Christian Peevy going 9/12 from the field on his way to 21 points, five rebounds and four steals.

Titus Robinson added 21 points, five boards and three steals, Nick Marshall 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists, Austin Shelley 11 points and seven assists, and Akech Aliir eight points and six rebounds.

The Pioneers now hit the road again to take on Nunawading Spectres and Dandenong Rangers.

RESULTS:

Mount Gambier Pioneers 67 (Aokuso 25, Reinoehl 16, Calleia 12) d Hobart Chargers 66 (Jansen 26, Broomhall 15, Richards 9)

Mount Gambier Pioneers 96 (Peevy 21, Robinson 21, N Marshall 18) d Hobart Chargers 70 (Brown 24, Angerstein 16, Straatsma 9)