THE Pioneers Basketball Club has announced the new head coach to take charge of its expanded women’s program, with Matt Sutton to lead the Mount Gambier side into its first season within the Adelaide Premier League competition.
A 200 game player for the Pioneers, Sutton is also a life member, three time championship player and captained the side from 2012 to 2016.
“Matt is what our club and town is all about,” club president Tom Kosch said.
“Arriving in Mount Gambier in 2011, Matt has made the town his home and we are sure he is the right person to pass on his experiences in basketball to our up-and-coming future women players.”
Kosch said the decision to appoint Sutton as the women’s coach was an easy one.
“Matt made contact with the club early on during its endeavours to be accepted into Basketball Victoria’s Elite competition and expressed interest in leading the women’s program,” he said.
“He, along with a core group of players, were the cornerstone of the club’s success between 2013 through to 2017, in which Matt understands the level of commitment required to prepare a team for ultimate success.”
Sutton currently holds the role as stadium manager of Basketball Mount Gambier (BMG).
Over two years in the position he has made significant contribution within the local basketball community, with a focus on junior players’ on-court development and the growth of the association’s programs and competitions.
The opportunity to now be able to offer a pathway for women to aspire to is an exciting one for the local basketball community.
“We now have an elite pathway in Mount Gambier for our female hoopsters,” Sutton said.
“It is only going to benefit the sport and give some of our local female players an opportunity to grow and develop, as well as give our juniors something to aspire to.”
Kosch said while the club and Sutton both understood the challenges ahead, they looked forward to the next chapter of the Pioneers’ history.
A finalised Premier League fixture will be provided for all clubs in the early days of January, with the season to tip-off in early March.
Basketball Australia’s decision to abandon its management of the SEABL competition left Mount Gambier’s men stranded without a competition to play in, with the Adelaide league a late lifeline.
“The Pioneers board has led from the front here to create this opportunity,” Sutton said.
“They should be very proud of their perseverance and patience.
“Plenty of people would have understandably found what they went through too hard and given up the fight, but they didn’t and we owe them a lot for what they have done for basketball in our region.”
The Pioneers acceptance into the Premier League was made just in time for Christmas, with the club offered a one-year license to allow some breathing room to find a sustainable option long term.
The license allows the league and its clubs to review Mount Gambier’s status within the competition as club management seeks long-term opportunities within other competitions.
“The club has been and will continue to be transparent with Basketball Australia and its Premier League clubs,” Kosch said.
“The chance to be part of the Premier League in 2019 along with adding a women’s program will maintain the club’s relevance as it strives to meet the criteria of Basketball Victoria’s new Elite competition, in which our ball club would seek to re-apply in July 2019.”
Kosch said the importance of the Pioneers organisation to the local and wider community is immeasurable.
“The people of Mount Gambier and surrounds understood the importance of preserving the organisation,” he said.
“On behalf of the club we can thank our sponsors, members and those of the wider community who have thrown the support behind it and its people in recent months.
“We look forward to expanding our program and having the local community get behind our men’s and women’s teams to make them a sustainable success long term.”
Work has already begun for Sutton and the club, with potential recruits contacted, along with regional and local players with interest to be part of the women’s program.
A trial will be held this Sunday, January 6 at 4pm at the Icehouse for any interested players.
