Pioneers Men sitting on top

THE Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers Men made it two from two at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre at the weekend to see their early season sitting at a healthy 4-1.

On Friday night, the men made light work of the Sandringham Sabres before back that win up with a tight victory over Eltham on Saturday night.

As it has been for the first few rounds of 2025, it was Akech Aliir leading the way, putting in a match winning performance to see the Pioneers take the points, 89-64, as the boys bounced back from a shock home loss to Casey the previous round.

The Sabres came to Wulanda on the back of three consecutive losses and it did take until the final quarter for the home side to really put the foot down and put the result beyond doubt.

The Pioneers led 17-11 at the first break and it was a seven point game at the main break, 43-36.

The lead did extend to as many as 18 points in the third period but the Sabres pulled it back to nine by the final change before the Pioneers flexed their muscles in the last with a 25-9 final stanza.

Aliir put up 22 points, pulled in seven rebounds and had two assists in an impressive performance on the back of him signing with the South East Melbourne Phoenix during the week, shoring up his immediate NBL future.

Austin Shelley (pictured below) contributed 16 points and five boards, Sturt recruit Alex Mudronja 16 points and eight rebounds, Kaden Archie 12 points and five boards, and Joe Palmer 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals to play their part in the 25 point victory.

Things were a little tougher the following night as they hosted the NBL1 South reigning titleholders Eltham, albeit with a new look line-up for the Wildcats.

And it was the defending champions leading by five at the first change, but the Pioneers took control of the contest, building the lead to as many as 21 points before the Wildcats made a last ditch effort to snatch the win, a 14-0 scoring run, getting the scoreboard back to seven with a minute to play but Mudronja finished an alley-oop pass from Aliir and Mount Gambier completed the job with the nine-point win.

Aliir continuing his tremendous form with another 17 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Mudronja also produced 14 points, six rebounds and two steals with Shelley adding 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, Archie 11 points and two boards, and Titus Robinson 10 points and three rebounds.

The OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers Women broke through for their first win of 2025, securing the win over the Sandringham Sabres, 71-55.

Haleigh Reinoehl (pictured above) led the way in the 16 point victory on Friday night as the winless Pioneers took on the undefeated Sabres.

The home side was clearly on a mission to get their season on track and the 27-10 opening quarter showed they meant business.

The lead got out to as much as 21 points in the second quarter with the Pioneers remaining in control leading 41-29 by half-time.

Mount Gambier went on a 14-0 run in the third quarter to see the lead grow to as much as 24 points and in the end, the home side was just happy to get the win.

Reinoehl inspired her team with 16 points, 21 rebounds, two assists and two steals with Jayda Jansen playing her part, top-scoring with 19 points along with five rebounds, five steals and two rebounds and Isa Brancatisano adding 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals, and Edie Easterby six points, nine boards and four steals.

The Pioneers’ joy was shortlived, though, when a stunning opening quarter from the Eltham Wildcats on Saturday night set up an eventual 76-64 win for the visitors.

The Wildcats scored 32 points in the opening stanza, coming off two losses in their opening rounds, and by the first break the visitors had set up a 24 point buffer.

The home side certainly fought their way back but were never really able to challenge and finished with a 12 point loss.

Reinoehl was again a shining light, top-scoring with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Jansen also had 17 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, and MacGregor 12 points, five boards and three assists.

RESULTS

MEN

Mount Gambier Pioneers 89 (Aliir 22, Shelley 16, Mudronja 16) d Sandringham Sabres 64 (Brown 18, Machar 15, Barlow 8); Mount Gambier Pioneers 89 (Aliir 17, Mudronja 14, Shelley 13) d Eltham Wildcats 80 (Hadley 20, Bledson 17, Cunningham 14)

WOMEN

Mount Gambier Pioneers 71 (Jansen 19, Reinoehl 16, Brancatisano 14) d Sandringham Sabres 55 (Andrews 17, Cochrane 10, Lopes 7); Eltham Wildcats 76 (Dickie 21, Cadee 14, Dart 13) d Mount Gambier Pioneers 64 (Reinoehl 19, Jansen 17, MacGregor