THERE will be more than just a focus on basketball when the Mount Gambier Pioneers host the Albury Wodonga Bandits in Round 16 of the South East Australian Basketball League season.
The Pioneers will don a yellow playing strip which includes the Lifeline logo to aid crisis support and suicide prevention.
The annual fundraiser has been well received by the general public, with tonight’s clash again including the auction of guernseys to raise funds.
From a game point of view it should provide plenty of entertainment, with the hosts looking to cement top spot on the East Conference ladder, while the visitors have a tentative hold on fourth position, with both Sandringham Sabres and Kilsyth Cobras knocking on the door.
It provides plenty of incentive for both sides, apart from the simple desire to win.
For the fans it means yet another quality game at the Icehouse, which has become a fortress again this season.
The Pioneers are yet to drop a game at home in 2017 and with just one more Icehouse fixture remaining after tonight, will want to end the season with an unblemished record in front of their parochial fans.
It has been a long time since the two sides last met – way back in Round 1.
In that game the Pioneers claimed the honours, but only by four points up in Albury.
Since then Mount Gambier has compiled a stellar season, dropping just two games from 19 outings, while the Bandits sit with a 9/11 win/loss ratio.
The last five outings have seen four losses to the Bandits, with five wins to the Pioneers.
On paper it all seems like a formality, but this season has seen some interesting results across the league.
There is certainly plenty of firepower in the Bandits’ roster, with TJ Robinson and Deba George leading the side’s average scores.
George also has the impressive figures of 7.5 assists per game, making him all that more dangerous around the hoop.
Last round also saw James Thomas Terrell sink 35 points in the side’s win over Ballarat Miners, point guard Jack Duck had a timely 14 points and Darcy Harding returned to the floor after injury.
However, as the season has progressed the Pioneers have continued to improve, with last weekend’s whitewash at Canberra a wake up call for the remaining side in the league as the playoffs fast approach.
The visitors made short work of both the Canberra Gunners and the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, all-but securing top spot on the ladder.
The starting five of Brad Hill, Erik Burdon, Luke Jamieson, captain Tom Daly and Daniel Alexander have proven to be as good as any in the league.
Add to the depth of the bench, which boasts the likes of Matt Sutton, Jack Madgen, Kane deWit and John Jones and the task is a tall one for the Bandits.
However, while the Pioneers’ playoffs are assured, the Bandits’ are not, with only percentage keeping the side in the hunt, meaning the visitors can not be taken lightly.
Going on season statistics, the home side should have no trouble accounting for the visitors, but as has been shown in this competition week in, week out, plans do not always go to script.
That sentiment was echoed by coach Richard Hill this week.
“They have a new import (Terrell) in and since he’s been in they have gradually been getting better,” he said.
“They are pretty talented, but have had some injuries.
“George has nearly 20 points and 7.5 assists, which is a pretty decent season by him.
“TJ Robinson is leading the league in scoring so they have three outstanding players in terms of numbers.
“They shoot a lot of three point shots, so we need to slow that up and keep Robinson off the boards.
“Young Harding is pretty good as well.”
While the Bandits are fighting for a playoff position, Hill said that was typical of the league at the moment.
“Right across the league – outside of the bottom three or four – teams have a shot at the playoffs,” he said.
“We haven’t secured two home finals yet, but hopefully we can get that out of the way pretty quickly.
“In the rest of the league, everyone is in a dogfight.
“Hopefully we can lock up top spot and make sure we do not leave anything to chance.”
