THE Mount Gambier Pioneers women have again stood tall to claim a thrilling four-point victory over the Norwood Flames in round five of the Basketball SA Premier League at the Icehouse on Saturday night.
A capacity crowd witnessed the win, which took everything the young side had.
While the Pioneers led at every change, there was little in the contest for the full four quarters.
The final result came down to the last seconds of the game, where new American import player Pachis Roberts made two successful free throws for a four-point lead to ice the game.
Roberts was impressive in her first outing with the club, finishing the game with 15 points and nine rebounds.
She was one of five Pioneers who reached double figures, with captain Amanda Frost leading the way with 23 points.
Olivia Wormald, Emily Winter and Melissa Russell all managed 10 points in a well-rounded team effort.
The Pioneers were on target early, with Roberts first on the board for the home side.
Wormald followed up soon after with a couple of two-point baskets to tie the game up, then mid-way through the term Roberts drained a three-point jumper for the lead.
However, the Flames refused to go away and continued to apply pressure, but in the end Frost finished off the quarter to put the home side up by seven points.
The Flames hit back in the second term, but it was Frost and Russell who kept the home side in touch, until Roberts finished the first half with a three-point bomb for a two-point lead.
The third term saw Olivia and Maddy Wormald add to the scoreboard, while Winter continued to build on her night.
By the final change the Pioneers had created what appeared to be a comfortable 11-point margin, but that all changed after the break.
With the game on the line the Flames pushed hard, but with three minutes to play still trailed by eight points.
That had been reduced to three inside the final minute and with just 40 seconds on the clock only two points separated the two sides.
The clock wound down to four seconds when Roberts went to the line for her two free shots to put the game beyond doubt, despite a desperate half-court shot by the Flames, which was disallowed.
Even so the Pioneers had done enough to claim the win, which was well received by the vocal crowd.
“I was really happy with the result,” coach Matt Sutton said.
“It certainly was not perfect, but for where we are at, bringing in a new player, it is still early days for our group.”
Sutton said he was impressed with Roberts’ first game for the club.
“She has an all-round package, she rebounded well, she got some points on the board and played some good defence at crucial times,” he said.
“She was also able to get her team mates involved in the game as well and has only scratched the surface of where she can be for us.”
Sutton said he felt Olivia Wormald was beginning to stand up to her potential.
“She is crucial for us,” he said.
“She battles inside against bigger opponents and has a really good skill set I feel she does not use enough.
“She started to show some of those things on the weekend, with a high level of intensity to get after the loose ball.”
Despite a handy lead late in the game, the Flames came back hard, but Sutton said he focused on the defensive effort to get across the line.
“We had to hold strong for that final stop,” he said.
“It was just about encouraging them to use their defensive ability and prove to everyone and themselves when the game is on the line they can make it happen.
“You always remember the offensive plays, but our ability to get a stop in a really crucial time was uplifting for the group.”
Overall the win was important for the young group, after their initial victory last year.
“The first win was like a huge milestone for the club,” he said.
“Besides our group, no one really expected it.
“It felt like we were overachieving from the outside, but from the inside we were confident we could get the wins.
“This win was for the girls to prove to themselves and those outside we are in this league to win it.”
