Pioneers ready to fire

THE stage is now set for a potentially epic qualifying final at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre as the Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Men host the Kilsyth Cobras.

When the two sides met on the Cobras home court in round 10, the Pioneers came home with the premiership points courtesy of a nailbiting one point victory.

The Pioneers did lead by 13 points early in the fourth quarter of that contest but then had to come from behind to seal their eventual 100-99 win over the Cobras after securing the necessary points from the charity stripe.

The Pioneers led by four at the first change and eight by the main break.

The third quarter was a veritable scoring spree – not just the number of points but the accuracy on the finish with the Pioneers converting 12 from 18 and the Cobras putting up a 11 from 19 shooting performance.

Heading into the last, the margin was nine points and it did extend to as much as 13 before the home side decided to make a serious run – a 15-0 run to be precise before the Pioneers sparked back into action.

The Cobras still led with just over a minute to play – the Cobras fourth quarter onslaught built on bit shots from beyond the arc – but a Titus Robinson rebound and some nerves of steel from the foul line from the returning Jack Haggett and Dylan Marshall sealed the victory.

Austin Shelley put up 23 points, two assists and two steals, while Akech Aliir added 17 points, six rebounds and three assists, Joe Palmer (pictured left) 13 points, seven boards, four assists and three steals, Robinson 12 points, five rebounds and three assists and Marshall 12 points, two boards and two steals.

That June 14 entertaining battle sets the scene for an intriguing double chance final with tip off at 7pm.