IT has been a tough start to the Basketball SA Premier League season for the Mount Gambier Pioneers men, but a fruitful one just the same.
As the newest team in the competition the Pioneers faced unknown quantities in every early game.
The task does not come any tougher than a double-header road trip this weekend.
The Pioneers face the Forestville Eagles tomorrow night, before backing up on Sunday against the Woodville Warriors.
The Eagles pose probably the bigger challenge, with a current win/loss record of six and one after their seven games.
The Pioneers sit with four and two after six games, but took to the floor early in the season undermanned and with little time together as a team.
Now well into the season the side seems to be hitting its straps, with the last two fixtures producing wins over North Adelaide Rockets and South Adelaide Panthers.
The win over the Rockets was a big turnaround from when the two sides met in round one.
The Rockets claimed that win by 15 points, while last time the two faced off at the Icehouse the Pioneers were 17-point victors.
That showed the improvement of the side as it now sits, with American imports DayJar Dickson and Kentrell Barkley settled in, along with Sam Daly, who has joined his brother and captain Tom in the side and begun to find his feet.
Offensively the Eagles look strong, having broken the 100-point barrier on four occasions.
Majok Deng could be the biggest hurdle to overcome, with an average of 26.86 points per game, 11.86 rebounds, along with former Pioneer Kane de Wit.
However, Tom Daly averages 24.17 points, while Barkley also sits above the 20 point average.
But one of Barkley’s biggest assets is his redounding, where he leads the league with 14.83 per game.
That provides first use of the ball off the boards for the Pioneers, with his defensive efforts creating offensive runs which can certainly do damage on the scoreboard.
Of course the Eagles do not rely on just one or two players, with the likes of Brendan Teys and Gregory Mays dangerous around the boards, so the Pioneers will need to be at their best to secure the win.
The Warriors should provide an easier opponent, but after such a tough game tomorrow night the Pioneers could well run out of steam.
Double-headers are not unusual to the Mount Gambier side this season, but with the recent break for Easter they may not be at their best.
Woodville does not have the firepower of Forestville, but will still be a worthy adversary.
The side sits two positions below the Pioneers in seventh place, with just three wins from seven games.
If the Pioneers claim the win tomorrow night, Sunday should provide a double and push the side right up to the pointy end of the ladder.
