Pioneers earn home preliminary final

THE Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers Men have booked a second home court final after a complete domination of the Kilsyth Cobras in Saturday night’s qualifying final.

The 36 point victory sent a clear warning to the rest of the NBL1 South competition, rubber stamping their solid 16-6 season record leading into the play offs.

The finals victory made it six on the bounce at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre for the Pioneers and they clearly meant business was the first tip off.

The home side opened up with a 27-14 first quarter and the script was almost the same in the second as the Pioneers took a 28 point lead into the main break.

The Pioneers had a hot hand in the opening half, shooting above 50 per cent from the floor, while the Cobras could only manage 10 from 32 and that was well and truly reflected in the scoreboard.

With another home final on the line and the chance for a week off, the Pioneers showed no signs of slowing down, extending that lead to 39 by the final change.

The 97-61 victory sees the Pioneers now sitting back and waiting for Sandringham and Eltham to battle it out for the final place in the preliminary final.

Joe Palmer (pictured top right) produced a standout performance in the win for Mount Gambier with 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals on 11/19 shooting from the field and 4/4 at the free-throw line, while Akech Aliir (pictured bottom right) added 17 points, six rebounds and four assists, Titus Robinson 13 points and six boards, Austin Shelley 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Alex Mudronja 11 points, six boards and two steals.

RESULTS

Mount Gambier Pioneers 97 (Palmer 27, Aliir 17, Robinson 13) d Kilsyth Cobras 61 (Stith 25, Dielemans 13, Sy 8)