THE community campaign to save the embattled Pioneers Basketball Club is gathering momentum as the iconic sporting institution faces possible elimination.
The 30-year-old sporting club has been thrown into crisis amid Basketball Australia foreshadowing a major restructure of the South East Australia Basketball League.
While club officials remain in the dark, it is understood a Basketball Australia’s board meeting next week will determine whether the Pioneers can be slotted into a viable league.
Boasting a string of championships and wide grassroots community support, the popular Pioneers home matches regularly attract between 800 to 1000 people at the Icehouse.
In fact, the Pioneers are considered to be one of Australia’s most successful regionally-based teams.
Mount Gambier basketball veteran administrator Beth Serle OAM said the community and basketball sporting fraternity were rallying behind the club.
“It breaks my heart about what is happening. It is illogical and unfair,” Ms Serle told The Border Watch yesterday.
Firing a shot directly at Basketball Australia, she said she was “horrified” about how the Pioneers were being treated by the national basketball officials.
“The Pioneers have been given the mushroom treatment – they have been kept in the dark,” Ms Serle said.
The veteran basketball official said the Pioneers had been part of Mount Gambier’s community and social fabric for three decades and the club’s contribution went well “beyond the court”.
“You cannot just measure what is done on the court.”
She said thousands of people had supported the club over its lifetime and the Pioneers continued to have a significant social, sporting and economic impact.
In fact, she suggested the Pioneers – which have won a string of championships – were being ostracised because of their strong performance on the court.
“Perhaps, they Pioneers have been too good,” Ms Serle said.
Pioneers Basketball Club president Tom Kosch called on the community to get behind the long-standing club given its uncertain future.
Mr Kosch said he remained hopeful the Basketball Australia and the Pioneers Basketball Club could broker a solution.
“Basketball Australia has put doubt over the future of the Pioneers – we have been no given no clear direction,” Mr Kosch said.
Explaining the Pioneers had been instrumental in promoting Mount Gambier, he said the presence of the team was “unique” to a city of this population.
Unlike soccer, football and other sporting codes, he said the Pioneers was the one team in Mount Gambier which had a sweeping community support.
“It is Mount Gambier’s team – it has genuine support.”
Pioneers captain Tom Daly yesterday expressed his disappointment over the situation, revealing it was hitting the playing group hard.
“The worst thing is not knowing … it is pretty disappointing and worrying,” Mr Daly said.
While the demise of the Pioneers would mean players and the coaching team would have to move on, he said it would be “heartbreaking” for the community.
“A lot of kids, who play basketball or other sports, look up to the Pioneers as a high achieving level of sport to aspire to,” Mr Daly said.
“It would be really disappointing for the supporters who have followed the team and put in a lot of hard work.”
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell also threw his weight behind the campaign to save the Pioneers and called on Basketball Australia to intervene.
“The Pioneers have put Mount Gambier on the map – their importance to Mount Gambier cannot be understated,” Mr Bell said.
“It will be absolutely pity the Pioneers cannot continue,” Mr Bell said.
“It is very important Basketball Australia ensures the Pioneers can fit into the new structure.”
The Pioneers have also played a major role in boosting junior basketball participation rates in Mount Gambier, with figures showing up to 600 people play basketball every week.
Basketball Australia did not comment before press time yesterday.
