Pioneers Men secure second spot

THE Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers Men finished the home and away season in style with a convincing home court victory over the Frankston Blues.

The 105-68 win locked in second spot for the men, who will host Kilsyth Cobras this Saturday night in a qualifying final.

Last Friday night’s victory made it six on the bounce for the Pioneers and the result was never in doubt from the first whistle as the home side went on a 15-0 run that made their intentions clear.

The lead was 13 at the first change and 28 at the half as the Pioneers enjoyed a hot hand from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers set up a game high 43 point lead before the final 37 point winning margin on the back of shooting 56 per cent from the field and dropping 14 from 34 from three point territory to finish the season with a 16-6 record.

Kaden Archie (pictured below) delivered 21 points on 8/10 field goal shooting, Alex Mudronja added 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals with 4/5 three-point shooting while Akech Aliir contributed 13 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.

Joe Palmer also had 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Titus Robinson 13 points, seven boards and two assists, and Austin Shelley 10 points, two assists and two steals.

Top scorer for the Blues was Mount Gambier product Michael Harris with 18 points.

The OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers Women were desperate to finish the season on a high but it wasn’t to be as Frankston got the job done on their way to the play offs.

The Blues overcame the tenacious home side with an 86-74 win.

The Pioneers led by one at quarter time before Frankston, despite some appalling conversion from three point territory, started to gain momentum and enjoyed an eight point half time advantage.

In the end, the Blues were able to hold sway in the second half to end up with the eventual 12 point win, relegating the Pioneers to an eighth consecutive loss and a season record of 6-16.

Isa Brancatisano (pictured above) finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Cat MacGregor added 16 points with 4/11 three-point shooting while Keryl Ousey contributed 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Jayda Jansen 11 points on 3/4 shooting from downtown.

RESULTS

Mount Gambier Pioneers 105 (Archie 21, Mudronja 20, Robinson 13, Palmer 13, Aliir 13) d Frankston Blues 68 (Harris 18, Samuel 12, Box 12)

Frankston Blues 86 (Brown 27, Hermida 23, Scherf 18) d Mount Gambier Pioneers 74 (Brancatisano 22, MacGregor 16, Ousey 11, Jansen 11)