Picture: TREVOR JACKSON
THE Mount Gambier Pioneers women will carry momentum into tonight’s Basketball SA Premier League meeting with the South Adelaide Panthers.
The round six clash will see the women chase their third consecutive win, in front of what can be expected to be another solid home crowd.
A nail-biting four-point victory over Norwood Flames was the high point for the club last round, after a disappointing result in the men’s clash.
New American import Pachis Roberts hit the floor running, with a solid first game of 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Her two successful free throws in the dying seconds of the game sealed the win for her side and she can be expected to stand tall once again.
She joined fellow import, captain Amanda Frost at the front of the pack, who scored a game-high 23 points, along with six rebounds and four assists.
The two have helped bolster the young side and their experience will continue to be invaluable as the season progresses.
Melissa Russell has also been a role model for the youth, with first class dedication in last week’s tight result and 10 points to compliment her performance.
The likes of youngsters Emily Winter and the Wormald sisters – Olivia and Maddy – were also impressive last round.
Winter and Olivia Wormald scored 10 points each, with seven and five rebounds respectively, while Maddy Wormald fell just shy of double figures with eight points.
Winter also had five assists for the match and will be out to build on her strong start to the season.
Behind Frost, who averages 22.25 points a game, Winter has been the next best scorer, with an average of 12.5 from the four games played.
With Roberts now in the mix, further depth has been added under the basket and the side should continue to build on its early success.
On the ladder the Pioneers sit below the Panthers by percentage alone, both with two wins from four games.
For the opposition Brianti Saunders will be the main threat under the basket, averaging 19.75 points a game, while Mollie McKendrick had a 21-point game last week against North Adelaide Rockets.
It is likely Russell may be given the task of shutting one of these players down.
Last week the Panthers recorded a 17-point win over the Rockets, who accounted for the Pioneers by nine back in round one.
However, the Mount Gambier women have improved greatly since their first hit out and will be well in the contest when they take to the Icehouse again tonight.
The match will tip off at 6.30pm and will be followed by the men’s game at 8.15pm.
