THE Mount Gambier Pioneers face another double-header on the road this weekend, with meetings in Adelaide against Southern Tigers and Eastern Mavericks.
For the men the round 10 fixture of the Basketball SA Premier League season will be a tough challenge, with two regulars sidelined due to injury.
Sam Daly missed the previous round due to an ankle injury sustained at training last week, while Erik Burdon suffered a hard knock against Forestville Eagles on Saturday, leaving him with a broken nose and fractured cheek bone.
Burdon is expected to miss a month of basketball, while coach Richard Hill is hopeful Daly will hit the court again next week.
However, that leaves the Pioneers without two of their starting five this round.
There is always light in the darkness and the circumstances gave up-comer Matt Black an opportunity to prove himself last week.
Hill was impressed with his efforts in round nine and he will look to carry some form into this week.
“Tom Daly got in foul trouble early against Forestville, so Matt had to come into the game early,” Hill said.
“Then he started for us on Sunday and he did a good job.
“It is a big step up for him and we were able to use his skills.”
The youngster’s skills will likely be looked to again this weekend, along with the likes of Lachie Hunter and Malok Makoi, who both had decent minutes last round.
They will need to be at their best, as will the remainder of the team, particularly against the Tigers.
They have two of the top five scorers for the league, including leading scorer Anthony Drmic, who averages 27.5 points a game.
“We need to be able to slow down Anthony Drmic and CJ Turnage and also put some points on the board ourselves,” Hill said.
“It is going to be a difficult task, but one we will be up for.”
The Pioneers have no shortage of firepower themselves, with American import Kentrell Barkley in red-hot form.
He leads the league rebound averages with 15.5 a game, while he has also been dangerous at the attacking end of the court.
He scored double-doubles in both games last round and is an entertaining player to watch.
Barkley will be joined by captain Tom Daly, who can always be relied on to shoot well, while fellow American DayJar Dickson also carries form into the round.
The loss of Burdon is disappointing, as he finally found some shooting form against the Eagles last week.
However, the Pioneers should have the depth to remain competitive and if all goes to plan two wins is not out of the picture.
Hill enters the round with an “open mind”, but is under no illusions it is going to be an easy task.
“We are going to have to be very good in all areas to win, particularly tomorrow night against Southern Tigers,” he said.
“We struggled with Southern Tigers at home earlier on in the year, they are a good team and last year’s champions.
“We are two players down on that lineup, so if we can manage a win that would be really good.”
The Eastern Mavericks should pose less of a threat, currently sitting in ninth on the ladder with just two wins.
However, the Pioneers will have the added pressure of backing up from tomorrow night’s game and will not go into the match under any pretences.
“Every time you have to back up the next day it is tough,” Hill said.
“We have Eastern Mavericks the next day and while their ladder position is not great, they are a decent team.
“It is going to be a really tough weekend for us.”
