Picture: TREVOR JACKSON
IT will be the Mount Gambier Pioneers’ final hit-out before the Easter break when the club’s men and women take to the Icehouse for round seven of the Basketball SA Premier League tomorrow.
Having faced the Rockets before – back in the season opener in Adelaide – both teams will be out to see how far they have improved over the following weeks.
For the women’s team, that match against North Adelaide was their first game together and resulted in a credible nine-point loss.
Since then the inclusion of American import Pachis Roberts has bolstered the side, while the youngsters in the ranks have improved in leaps and bounds.
Coach Matt Sutton said Saturday’s game is the perfect chance to see where the team sits compared to the start of its debut season.
“It will be good to find out where we are at exactly,” he said.
“It was not that long ago that we played them, but at the same time a lot has happened since then.
“It will be interesting to see how we have grown as a team.”
Sutton is happy with where the side sits at this point in the season and rightly so, as the women take to their home court hungry for a fourth consecutive win.
“We are in a good position where we have multiple contributors each week,” Sutton said.
“We are really comfortable with everyone’s roles at the moment.”
Roberts has benefited from another week of training and a second game under her belt and can be expected to be among the top performers again this week.
She joined captain and fellow American Amanda Frost, plus Melissa Russell and youngster Emily Winter at the head of the pack last week, in a hard-fought victory over South Adelaide.
They will all be out to back up their performances, while Sutton also expects good things from the Wormald sisters.
“I think Maddy is probably a bit disappointed with how she shot the ball last week, so she has been putting in some extra work this week,” Sutton said.
“And Olivia has been playing great, doing the little things and defensive rebounding.
“We expect that to continue.”
Olivia Wormald pulled in 12 rebounds last week, eight from the defensive end, while Russell has also been a first-class defender, in addition to making an impact on the scoreboard.
“She (Russell) is an experienced, solid and ferocious competitor,” Sutton said.
“We do not put too many expectations on anyone, but we know we will get the best out of her.
“She is versatile and aware of her role and I am very happy with what she is contributing to the team.”
She also played a solid defensive game against the Rockets in their first encounter and will likely take on a similar role on Saturday.
A few losses for the weekend will see Keryl Ousey, Claire Hunter and Mikaela Horrigan all absent due to state commitments, but the side should have the depth to cover the loss of the promising youngsters.
A fourth consecutive win is a potential reality heading into the match, but Sutton said that is not on his mind.
“We are not putting any pressure on that side of things,” he said.
“We are just trying to focus on developing and getting our structures and chemistry right.
“Once the ball goes up we are competitive people and we definitely want to win, but we are not focusing on four wins being a target or anything like that.”
The match is sure to be a spectacle and will tip of a night of exciting basketball at 6.30pm.
