THE Mount Gambier Pioneers have so far experienced a tough season, with injury all-but destroying their South East Australian Basketball League national title defence.
In recent weeks the club has taken steps to replace the likes of Brad Hill and Majok Deng, with the roster finally complete.
The most recent addition was American import player Alex Marzette, who was first seen by the fans at the Icehouse just two days after arriving in Australia.
Marzette hails from Wisconsin, from what he refers to as a small city – of around 100,000 people.
He has played in the NBA G League, in the FIBA Europe Cup and various other top-level competitions.
He has a dream to reach the NBA, following in the footsteps of the likes of fellow Winsconsin players Caron Butler and Nick Van Exel.
He believes his time with the Pioneers and coach Richard Hill will help him achieve that goal.
More importantly he believes the Pioneers can win another national championship this season.
A combination of jet lag and a lack of time with the team saw just a few minutes on the floor in his first outing, but last week the time was right to show what he could do.
A feature of his game was a big vertical leap, which helped to secure seven rebounds and slam home one dunk in a close loss for the side against the top team in the competition.
Marzette found 18 points along the way and showed plenty of promise for the remainder of the season.
Speaking to The Border Watch this week, Marzette said he was finding his feet and settling into his new surrounds, despite the late call up.
“When I first got here I felt a lot of jet lag,” he said.
“It is probably the longest trip I have ever made – I have been to Portugal, to Finland, but Australia was the farthest from the United States.
“I came here a day or two before the first game and the coach wanted to put me out there to see how I reacted, to give me a few minutes to get my legs going a little bit.”
“It is the first time I have had to play so soon after coming in, but the team had open arms for me.
“They loved me as soon as I got here and they taught me everything I needed to know right away.”
Before coming to Mount Gambier, Marzette said he studied the team, spoke to Hill a couple of times over the phone and understood what to expect.
He said Hill explained what he wanted to achieve this year with the team and asked if he was ready for the challenge.
“Wherever you go you want to win unless you are completely out of contention for the playoffs,” Marzette said.
“Before I came they told me they were struggling with injury and asked if I was ready to come and give it all I have to get to where we need to be.
“I did that in Finland – we were the champions the year before I got there – so I am used to the pressure.
“I’m out here to play, to help win and get to that level.”
Marzette said he was pleased with Friday night’s game, with plenty of minutes on the floor to help find his feet.
And now after such a short time in the roster, he has one simple goal in mind and that revolves around a championship.
“I think we can do it,” Marzette said.
“If we can get to the playoffs, I think we will be fine.
“Everyone is starting to come together and we are looking so much better than the first day the final team got here.
“Up against statistically the best team (Friday night against Kilsyth), going forward if we can continue at that pace, without the mental mistakes we made, we will be fine.”
Marzette said he was excited to come here and ultimately what lies ahead.
“To come and play here was exciting for me,” he said.
“Being able to be under coach Richard – I heard he was a great coach – just coming to that winning culture, you want to be in that type of position.
“Whatever happens within the season, I still have a chance to learn from Richard and that was big for me.
“He is on me every day about watching film, learning as much as I can, even in practice he wants me to take advantage of every little situation.
“He wants me to be the best player I can be every single moment.
“Wherever I end up next, whether it be NBL, Europe, G League, I feel like whatever he tells me now, the way he helps me now is going to help me achieve like I never have in any other season.”
While Marzette has played in various different countries around the world, he said adapting to life in Australia had been quite simple so far – apart from one major difference.
“I have never seen a car with the steering wheel on the right, then you guys drive on the left hand side of the street,” he said.
“That was the weirdest thing for me.
“It was hard to adapt to, but I got it within a day or two.”
If Marzette can adapt to the SEABL competition as smoothly, Mount Gambier supporters can expect bigger numbers from the likeable American as the season progresses and if all goes to plan, another shot at a national title could be in sight for the Pioneers.
