Pioneers women climb ladder after dominant weekend

Pachis Roberts Cropn 20190601  TBW Newsgroup
DOUBLE WIN: Mount Gambier Pioneer Pachis Roberts drives towards the basket during a double-header road trip which saw the side claim two victories from as many matches. Picture: NOEL BLACK

Pachis Roberts Cropn 20190601  TBW Newsgroup
DOUBLE WIN: Mount Gambier Pioneer Pachis Roberts drives towards the basket during a double-header road trip which saw the side claim two victories from as many matches. Picture: NOEL BLACK

MOUNT Gambier’s Pioneers women continue to defy the odds after claiming another two victories in rounds 13 and 14 of the Basketball SA Premier League on the weekend.

The team was thrown together late in the pre-season from a base of nothing, but has performed well with a core group of young Limestone Coast basketballers to now sit in second place on the ladder.

The weekend’s results were impressive, with a 15-point win over the Norwood Flames on Saturday night.

But the win did not come easy, with the Pioneers trailing by three points at the first break.

They came within two points early in the second term off a three-point jumper from American import Pachis Roberts, but the Flames continued to apply scoreboard pressure and by the long break the margin was nine.

That changed in the third quarter when the Pioneers banged on 19 points and held the Flames to just six.

Captain Amanda Frost contributed 10 of those, helped by Melissa Russell from the three-point line and Roberts.

The final term continued to roll for the Pioneers, as Emily Winter found her feet with seven last-quarter points – the same amount as the entire Flames team.

Maddy Wormald started the final term with a regulation layup, before hitting back-to-back threes mid-way through to push the lead out to 11 points.

When Frost hit her final free throw of the night the margin was 15 and the victory went to the Pioneers.

Frost topped the scoresheets with 22 points and 11 rebounds, Roberts contributed 16 and 11, while Winter went on to record 16 points.

Sunday saw a match-up against the bottom side, with the Pioneers in the box seat to clean up for the weekend.

That is how it would pan out, but probably not as comfortably as might have been expected.

The first term saw just two points in the game at the siren, with the Pioneers up but with a scoreline too close for comfort.

Roberts, Wormald and Winter continued their Saturday night form, with the scene set for a big second term.

However, the Lions turned the game upside down on their home court, outscoring the Pioneers to lead by 11 at the long break.

Something special was needed and it was Winter who stood tall, with 17 points in the third term to change the momentum and help the visitors to a handy six-point lead.

That appeared to knock the wind out of the Lions’ sails and the Pioneers methodically built the advantage from there.

In the end Winter finished with 23 points, joined by Roberts as the only two Pioneers in double figures.

Coach Matt Sutton said it was pleasing to get both wins, which was the first time the team had achieved that result.

He said the offensive effort of Winter on Sunday was not surprising to him, nor was her defensive game on Saturday night.

“Amanda and Pachis have been the highlight of the season, but Emily has been really consistent,” he said.

“The best thing about Emily’s game Saturday was her response defensively in the second half.

“She kept (Shannon) Webber who had 12 in the first half, to two points in the second half.

“That was a huge factor to our defence.

“One thing about our team, it is not selfish and it was her turn on Sunday.

“Everyone was willing to support that and give her the ball when she was open.”

To keep a team to six points in one quarter is a big effort, but Saturday night the Pioneers went even further against the Flames.

“We kept them to 15 in the second half, which is massive,” Sutton said.

“We addressed a few things at half time, the girls took it all on board and executed, which was a big effort.

“They have always been up for the challenge – against Centrals (Sunday) they were down by 11 at half time and I gave them a real challenge.

“The just looked me in the eye and went out and executed.”

Sutton said Frost led the team in typical fashion over the weekend, with Saturday night’s effort something special.

“The way Amanda played Saturday was amazing,” he said.

“She had a patch in the third quarter … I have not seen anything like that for a long time.

“For a player to take both ends of the floor into their own hands and swing the game in our favour was pretty amazing to watch.

“She had our last eight points in the quarter, a couple of steals and was involved in everything.”

The Pioneers now have a break for the June long weekend, before some big challenges as the season begins to wind down.