Pioneers teams entrenched in top four

The OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers women snapped their four-game losing streak with an emphatic 69-48 road victory against the Kilsyth Cobras.

The girls showed their intent with a 23-9 opening quarter onslaught and continued on their merry way, extending that to a 44-26 half time scoreline.

At one stage the Pioneers enjoyed a 32 point lead but a lacklustre final quarter, where they scored only nine points, saw the final margin rest at 21.

The critical victory saw the Pioneers improve to a 10-5 record with Sherria Calleia delivering 19 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Samantha Fatkin also had 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists with Isa Brancatisano contributing 12 points, six boards, four steals and two assists, and Zitina Aokuso nine points, five assists and four rebounds.

The girls made it two from two on the road when they backed up the Kilsyth win with a 85-70 victory over the Diamond Valley Eagles – the win seeing the Mount Gambier team consolidate its top four position.

The match was an arm wrestle for the first three quarters, with the Pioneers leading by one at quarter time, three at the half and six at the final change before the visitors took control of the final stanza to take the 15 point victory.

Haliegh Reinoehl was outstanding with 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists on 10/17 shooting as the Pioneers got their season record back on track to sit at a much more respectable 11-5.

Zitina Aokuso also delivered 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, Sherrie Calleia 15 points, six boards, six assists and three steals, and Zoe Hurley 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

The Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers Men also made it two from two on the road starting with the Saturday night victory over Kilsyth by nine points.

Akech Aliir had a perfect night from three point territory on his way to 34 points as the Pioneers remained in the hunt for a top two spot with the 90-81 win against the Cobras.

The Pioneers entered the clash with a perfect home record and started well to set up a 23-18 quarter time advantage.

That five point lead was extended to 13 during the second before settling for an eight point half time lead.

It was a 13 point lead early in the last before the Cobras sprung to life and went on a 12-0 run and enjoyed all the momentum and the home crowd support.

Nick Marshall was the man who wrested control back with a crucial jumper and a three pointer, with Titus Robinson also hitting a shot from beyond the arc to help the Pioneers to a nine point victory,

Aliir produced a match winning performance with 34 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 12/19 shooting from the floor, 5/5 from downtown and 5/5 at the free-throw line, while Nick Marshall also put up 21 points, four rebounds and four assists while Christian Peevy added 13 points and six boards, and Dylan Marshall eight points, two rebounds and two steals.

The men backed that impressive Saturday night performance up with another strong outing on Sunday, taking care of the Diamond Valley Eagles by 15 points.

The Pioneers set up a 20 point half time lead after a dominant second quarter and in the third quarter worked their way to a game high 26 point advantage before the Eagles dominated the final quarter to reduce the margin to 15.

The Pioneers now sit at a health 1204 for the season and are entrenched in second place on the NBL1 South standings.

Nick Marshall produced a huge performance in the win for Mount Gambier with 25 points, 14 rebounds and two steals while Shelley contributed 20 points, five boards and two assists.

Saturday night hero Aliir also had 18 points and nine rebounds, Peevy 13 points, seven boards and three assists, and Robinson nine points and six rebounds.

The Pioneers are at home at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre to the Hobart Chargers on Friday.

RESULTS

Mount Gambier Pioneers 69 (Calleia 19, Fatkin 12, Brancatisano 12) D Kilsyth Cobras 48 (Young 13, Booth 9, Whitehead 8, Haberfield 8)

Mount Gambier Pioneers 85 (Reinoehl 25, Aokuso 20, Calleia 15) d Diamond Valley Eagles 70 (Ellis 27, Turner 15, Vasiljevic 8)

Mount Gambier Pioneers 90 ((Aliir 34, N Marshall 21, Peevy 13)) d Kilsyth Cobras 81 (Jeffs 27, Lang 16, Riak 12)

Mount Gambier Pioneers 96 (N Marshall 25, Shelley 20, Aliir 18) d Diamond Valley Eagles 81 (Perry 19, McIntosh 13, Manyang 12, Symons 12)