Pioneers start well on the road in NBL1 opener

Both teams secure opening night victories

It was a game of momentum swings but in the end, newly appointed captain Cassandra Brown (pictured right), has started her tenure in the top job leading the OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers women to a hard fought four point victory over the Sandringham Sabres in the season opener on the road at Southern Basketball Stadium on Saturday night.

The home side was on top most of the evening and were up 10 early in the fourth quarter, but from there the Pioneers took over including going on a 10-0 run to claim the eventual four-point win. Miela Goodchild was outstanding in her debut for the Mount Gambier club for Mount Gambier with 26 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals with Isabella Brancatisano adding 20 points, five assists and three steals. Haliegh Reinoehl contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers men started their 2023 campaign, under new skipper, homegrown talent Kane de Wit (pictured bottom left), in NBL1 South with a bang, completing outclassing the Sandringham Sabres 119-89.

It was a high scoring opening half, with the Pioneers enjoying a seven point lead, and it looked like a tight shootout was on the caards but Mount Gambier blew open the match with a stunning 39-20 third quarter to set up what ended up a 30 point victory.

The Pioneers shot 54.1 per cent for the game as a team and hit 19/39 from three point territory with Nick Marshall delivering 32 points and six rebounds with eight from 10 shooting from beyond the arc.

The 2022 MVP led the way, arguably as expected, but in further good news for the visitors, new faces Julian Pesava, who has made the move after being an NBL1 West championship winner, put up 21 points and five boards while hitting five from nine from three point territory, while Jacob Lampkin added 18 points and 11 boards, and Chris Seeley 14 points and 11 boards.

Both teams then took on Nunawading on Sunday.