Pioneers men make it three on the bounce

Women’s five game winning streak comes to an end

Reigning champions the Ringwood Hawks welcomed back Marena Whittle and put together a dominant performance to beat end the five game winning streak of the OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers Women with a 22 point victory on Saturday night.

Ringwood was still clinging to a place in the top eight despite having lost two of their previous three matches, but they will be looking to build some momentum now with Whittle back in the lineup joining Ariel Jones and Marta Hermida.

It was only a one point game at quarter time but it was in the second period that the Hawks, with the backing of thier home court crowd, start to assume control and the lead was double figures by the half.

The Hawks then continued to take over further to lead by as much as 20 points in the third quarter, by 26 in the fourth and ended up winning by 22.

Reigning Grand Final MVP Marena Whittle was terrific for Ringwood with 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists with Ariel Jones contributing 20 points, four boards and three steals.

For the Pioneers, Perth Lynx WNBL signing Miela Goodchil (pictured below right) put up another 25 points and six rebounds for Mount Gambier with Cassandra Brown adding 17 points, seven boards and three assists, Haliegh Reinoehl 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Sherrie Calleia nine points, four boards and four dimes.

It was better news for the Castec Rurual Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers Men as they look to start building some momentum in the second half of the NBL1 South season.

They took care of the Hawks, 105- 98, to make it three on the bounce after a mid season run of losses.

The Hawks started well to lead by five pointsthe first break before scores were all square at 50-50 at th main break.

The Pioneers began to take charge in the third quarter going on a 10-0 scoring run to open up a 13-point lead, and that would ultimately prove the difference as they held out the Hawks in the finish to win by seven.

The imrpoves the Pioneers record to 9-5 on the season, as coach Richard Hill (pictured above right) starts to see the kind of form he would be hoping for as the business end of the season approaches.

Jacob Lampkin (pictured below left) fired for Mount Gambier with 27 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks while shooting 11/17 from the floor. Tom Kubank added 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists for the Pioneers, Will Mayfield 16 points and three boards, and Austin Shelley 12 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Both teams took on traditional rival Ballarat on Sunday.