Picture: TREVOR JACKSON
THE Mount Gambier Pioneers will host the South Adelaide Panthers tonight, for round six of the Basketball SA Premier League.
While the women will be out to continue their winning streak, which sits at two after a tight victory over Norwood Flames last week, it is a matter of redemption for the men.
A 10-point loss to the Flames in overtime was a painful blow and one which could have been avoided.
However, coach Richard Hill is eager to put that game behind them and is now focused on the task at hand.
“It was disappointing that we let a game slip that we felt we should have won,” he said.
“But at the same time we respect our opponent, they were very good.
“In the end we were not able to take our opportunities.”
He said “based on form” the Pioneers should account for South Adelaide tomorrow, but the Panthers have shown improvement in recent weeks.
“They have had much-improved efforts the last couple of outings and had a really good game against North Adelaide, who were too good for us in Adelaide,” Hill said.
“It is all unknown for us, every team we come up against is pretty much an unknown quantity.
“We just have to treat everyone with respect and be ready to play every single night.”
Kentrell Barkley was in blinding form on Saturday, with an impressive 40 points, 16 rebounds and two assists, voted player of the round for his efforts.
The American import has proven his worth in the short time he has spent with the club and his form is likely to continue.
Hill said Barkley met the standard he had expected from the American on Saturday.
“I have high expectations for him, but it was fair to say he was at that level and played very well on Saturday,” he said.
“I think he ran out of steam in the end, he had a really heavy work load, given we had a lot of foul trouble.
“He had 40 points at three quarter time and was not able to score after that.”
Captain Tom Daly also had a good game based on his statistics, but did not perform at his best.
“I think Tom, by his own admission – his stats look okay – but he did not play at the level he would have expected,” Hill said.
“He has had a bit of a stiff back.
“We had a number of guys down on their normal form last week.”
Regardless, Daly scored 24 points and had nine assists to keep the Pioneers in the match.
Aside from the final stages of the game, Hill was happy with how the team performed and is pleased with how it looks early in the season.
“Other than 10 minutes of last week’s game – the last five of regulation and the overtime – I am really pleased with the way we are tracking,” he said.
“I think the group is getting better and tighter and understands what we are trying to do.
“It is very much still a work in progress.
“It will take a little bit of time before we are at out best, but the chemistry is getting better.”
In terms of who can be expected to step up tonight, Hill said it could be anyone who leads the way on the scoreboard.
“You just never know, particularly in our system,” he said.
“We had Tom three weeks ago with 40 points and Kentrell with 40 on the weekend.
“That is sort of how we role, it could be someone else’s turn this week.
“You just cannot be sure where it will come from, but we like it that way.”
With some up-coming players in the ranks, Hill said Lachie Hunter is one he has been impressed by, as he shows improvement every week.
American import DayJar Dickson also had a decent outing last round, with 12 points and nine rebounds and will join the remainder of the team as it looks to claim its third win for the season in front of a home crowd.
Hill hopes to see another bumper crowd tonight and said the club is ecstatic with the support it has received in the opening rounds.
“It is just mind blowing to be honest,” he said.
“The support we have had has been incredible.
“We are just over the moon with the way it’s been going.”
The match will tip off at 8.15pm.
