Pioneers still sitting pretty

The OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers women split their weekend road trip, taking care of Knox raiders before falling narrowly to Casey cavaliers.

The girls entered the clash with Knox having won nine of their 10 outings in the 2024 season and they showed why with a scintillating opening quarter which started with a 10-0 run and saw the Pioneers 16 points clear at the first break.

That lead got out to 26 points in the second quarter as well and the visitors went into the half-time break on top 46-24.

Knox did respond after the main break to outscore the Pioneers in the third but the damage had been done and in the end, the Pioneers secured an 18 point victory.

Sherrie Calleia produced a standout performance for Mount Gambier in the win with 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals on 11/17 from the floor and three from five from behind the three-point line.

Haliegh Reinoehl continues to shine and she had another 22 points and seven rebounds, Zitina Aokuso 11 points, 14 boards and five blocks, and Zoe Hurley nine points.

Things did not go as smoothly at Casey Stadium where the home side snapped a three game losing streak to defeat the top ranked Pioneers.

Alice Kunek put up 36 points to lead the Casey Cavaliers to the impressive 96-87 home victory over the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

It was the Pioneers getting a taste of their own medicine when it was Casey who got foo to the flyer in the opening quarter, opening up a 12-point lead early and hanging on to be seven points clear at the first break.

It was a double-figure advantage most of the rest of the way too with Mount Gambier unable to fight their way to the lead the entire contest.

Casey would end up leading by 13 points in the third quarter and 15 in the fourth on the way to the eventual nine-point victory to improve to a 3-8 record on the season.

Kunek was the star of the victory for the Cavaliers adding six rebounds and three assists to her 36 points, which included an impressive seven from 11 from beyond the arc.

Aokuso had an equally impressive game securing 30 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for the Pioneers, while Calleia also put up 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Sam Fatkin 11 points, two boards and two assists, Reinoehl 11 points and five rebounds, and Isa Brancatisano nine points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers men returned from with both wins in the pocket.

The successful road campaign started against defending champion Raiders at Knox Basketball Stadium, who were looking to snap a two-game losing streak while the Pioneers were looking to build on their three consecutive victories.

It was a hot start on the road from the Pioneers as they opened up a 19-point lead by quarter time with the 32-13 advantage.

Mount Gambier pushed the lead out to 22 points in the second quarter and went into half time well and truly on top 51-30.

The lead for the boys blew out to as much as 26 points in the second half before they went on to beat the defending National Champions on their home floor by 21 points to improve to an 8-2 record with a fourth straight win.

The Pioneers ended the night shooting 52.3 per cent from the field opposed to 37.8 from the Raiders along with hitting 12/28 from beyond to arc to the 9/32 from Knox.

Nick Marshall led the charge once more for the Pioneers with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two assists with Christian Peevy contributing 18 points and five boards, and Akech Aliir 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

Austin Shelley also had 16 points, three rebounds and two assists, Dylan Marshall 14 points and four boards, and Kane de Wit seven points, six assists and four rebounds.

The win over Casey was also set up with a strong opening quarter, where the Pioneers set up a 12 point lead.

The Pioneers continued to pull away throughout the afternoon to lead by as much as 19 points in the second quarter with that advantage growing to 22 in the third, and then to end up winning by 12 with Casey finishing the game strongly.

The road double saw the men now sitting at 9-2 for the season with Aliir delivering 20 points and 11 rebounds on 7/10 shooting.

Marshall also had another 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists with Christian Peevy contributing 17 points, six boards, two assists and two steals, and Dylan Marshall nine points, two rebounds and two steals.

The Pioneers host the Eltham Wildcats on Friday at Wulanda.

RESULTS:

Mount Gambier Pioneers 81 (Calleia 26, Reinoehl 22, Aokuso 11) d Knox Raiders 63 (Froling 20, Bradley 19, Rowe 8)

Casey Cavaliers 96 (Kunek 36, Simmons 22, Van Kleunen 17) d Mount Gambier Pioneers 87 (Aokuso 30, Calleia 26, Reinoehl 11, Fatkin 11)

Mount Gambier Pioneers 98 (N Marshall 21, Peevy 18, Aliir 17) d Knox Raiders 77 (Feagin 20, Machar 16, Nunn 13, Bowen 13)

Mount Gambier Pioneers 82 (Aliir 20, N Marshall 18, Peevy 17) d Casey Cavaliers 70 (Stith 22, Thoseby 17, Bungei 15)