Pioneers women dominate

The OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers women continue to stamp their authority on the 2024 NBL1 South competition, winning the battle for the undefeated teams at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre, with an 80-55 scoreline against Keilor Thunder.

It was a strong opening from both teams with the home side just edging ahead for a three point quarter time buffer.

Early in the second it looked like the Pioneers was going to take control, going on an 11-0 run, but by the main break, the advantage was only two points.

The second half was one way traffic though, outscoring the Thunder 47-24, ending in a 25 point final whistle buffer to see the Pioneers sit 6-0 in the early going of the 2024 season.

Haliegh Reinoehl (pictured left centre) top scored in the win for the Pioneers with 19 points, three rebounds and two assists, hitting five from eight from beyond the arc.

Sherrie Calleia added 15 points and five assists, Zitina Aokuso (pictured top left) 14 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and four assists, and Isa Brancatisano 11 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Aokuso’s performance earned her the Anzac Round Medal.

Not even a 35 point haul from star Pioneer Nick Marshall (bottom left) could save the Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers men from a 13 point loss to the Keilor Thunder.

The men entered the home court clash with a 4-1 season record.

It was a tense opening quarter as the visitors created a nine point buffer before the Pioneers hit back to trim that advantage to just three points by the first break.

And after an arm wrestle in the second quarter, the lead remained the same for Keilor by the half time interval.

The damage, as far as Pioneers’ fans were concerned, was done in the third when the 25-10 third quarter saw the Thunder seemingly take control.

The visitors enjoyed a game high 21 point lead at one stage in the final stanza before the home side trimmed the final margin to 13 with a late flurry.

It was a stellar shooting performance from the Thunder that sank the Pioneers – Keilor had six players in double figures, they shot 51 per cent from the field as a team and hit an impressive 16/29 from three point territory.

Marshall had a huge night with 35 points, nine rebounds and three assists on 15/23 field goal shooting with Akech Aliir adding 10 points, 12 boards and four blocks.

RESULTS

Mount Gambier Pioneers 80 (Reinoehl 19, Calleia 15, Aokuso 14) d Keilor Thunder (Carmody 19, Rocci 13, Rotunno 10)

Keilor Thunder 96 (Kuany 17, Gibbs 17, Zunic 16) d Mount Gambier Pioneers 83 (N Marshall 35, Aliir 10, Shelley 9)