THE Mount Gambier Pioneers men lost their second game of the Basketball SA Premier League season, in a physical clash with the Norwood Flames Saturday night at the Icehouse.
The game went into overtime, where an undisciplined moment by Sam Daly could have cost the home side any chance of victory.
The loss puts the Pioneers on the back foot as they chase success in their first season in the league, now down in eighth place on the ladder from 11 teams.
Despite the loss the Pioneers showed plenty of ability throughout the game.
Had it not been for foul trouble early, Daly could well have had a positive effect on the outcome.
He finished the night with nine points from just 23 minutes of play, with some classy moments along the way.
However, was Kentrell Barkley who lit the scoreboard on fire.
Barkley began his assault with 15 first-quarter points to the put the Flames on notice he would be one to stop.
Despite his effort the Pioneers trailed by five points at the first break.
After a short rest on the bench Barkley returned to the floor two minutes into the second term, then duly sunk a further 13 points, with the Pioneers two pints in arrears at the long break.
Barkley continued his assault in the third quarter, starting out with a crowd-pleasing dunk, before adding 12 for the term, to finish with 40 for the game.
To that he added 16 rebounds in a monumental effort.
By the final break the Pioneers led by a healthy 10 points and looked to have the measure of the visiting Flames.
Not to be outdone, DayJar Dickson was also making inroads on the scoreboard, with some early points in the final stanza, along with Lachie Hunter.
When Matt Black added two points four minutes into the term the Pioneers were up by a game-high 14 points and all was on track for another victory.
However, the Flames found something extra and began to methodically reel in the margin.
With three minutes remaining the deficit was just two points and the momentum was with the visitors.
Just like the women’s game before, the contest came down to the wire, with scores tied with just 25 seconds remaining.
A late hook shot from Barkley was unsuccessful, which sent the game into overtime.
From there the Flames continued their momentum and with just one minute remaining the drama unfolded.
A fifth foul to Daly saw him out of the game, with his ill discipline which followed allowing the Flames to create a margin the Pioneers could not close down.
In the end the home side went down by 10 points, but not without a fight.
Barkley’s double-double was complemented by Tom Daly’s 24 points, Dickson’s 12 and Brad Rathjen’s 10.
Coach Richard Hill conceded it was a lack of discipline which let his side down, but said it was a competitive game against a tough opposition.
“It was actually a really good game,” he said.
“They were very good and we played pretty well.
“We came back from half a dozen down in the second to get to 13 up.
“Our third quarter was really good, but then to squander that opportunity was disappointing.”
However, Hill took nothing away from the Flames, who he said played good basketball.
“They played incredibly well, especially in the last five minutes of the game,” he said.
“I thought they were very well coached.
“It was very physical and they tested us.”
In the wash up Hill said there were good signs for the new-look side as it settles into the league.
“I thought Kentrell had a great game,” he said.
“That is what I expect from him, but I do not expect him to get 40 points every week.
“We would have liked to use him a bit less early in the game, but we were in foul trouble, so he ran out of juice in the end.
“Lachie Hunter stood up well for us and is really important for us.
“Tom (Daly) put some good points on the board and Brad Rathjen has come along well.
“I think we will still be very good if we can learn from those mistakes.”
The Pioneers will now prepare to host South Adelaide Saturday night.
