UNLIKE their male counterparts, the Mount Gambier Pioneers women battled until the final buzzer in their round 16 Basketball SA Premier League matches in Adelaide on the weekend.
The team came away with two wins and were forced to work for the results, with a three-point victory over West Adelaide Bearcats on Saturday night pushing it to its limits.
Sunday’s game was slightly less taxing, as the Pioneers defeated South Adelaide Panthers by 16 points.
Coach Matt Sutton was pleased to return home with the six points for the round in two hard-fought encounters.
“We are very happy to get the results, albeit not perfect, but we got there in the end,” he said.
Saturday’s meeting with the Bearcats saw a solid start from the visitors, with a 23-8 point lead at the first change.
However, the hosts slowly chipped away at the scoreboard and eventually found themselves in with a chance.
“With a few minutes left we had about a 10-point lead,” Sutton said.
“The girls started really well and we were able to hold onto the lead for a good period.
“But then (West Adelaide) came home really strong and we looked to be running out of steam.
“We were lucky to hold on in the end.”
With 48 seconds on the clock there was one point in it and the next score would ultimately decide the game.
Turnovers, fouls, substitutions and a timeout were all crammed into that final minute and with 11 seconds to go, West Adelaide’s Tahlia Fejo went up for a two-point layup.
However, the shot missed and when captain and American import Amanda Frost made a two-point jump shot with two seconds to play, the Pioneers sealed a thrilling three-point win.
“We will take it that’s for sure,” Sutton said.
“To beat a really good team on their home floor is a really good result.”
The match saw Frost and fellow American Pachis Roberts top score with 20 and 26 points respectively, while the latter achieved a double-double with 10 rebounds to compliment her efforts under the hoop.
Sunday’s game saw the Americans again the focal point, this time with Frost claiming the double-double accolade with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Roberts also backed up Saturday’s game with 21 points and six rebounds, while it was the defensive efforts of Melissa Russell which received extra praise from her coach.
“Mel Russell’s defensive job against South was amazing,” he said.
“She played against one of the best players in the league, Mollie McKendrick.
“She kept her to six points, which was a big part of our victory.”
Russell pulled in 12 rebounds for the match, while Emily Winter had a quiet weekend by her books with nine points on Sunday after a seven-point game against the Bearcats.
Looking ahead the Pioneers face Woodville this weekend, before two tough matches against the Sturt Sabres and Forestville Eagles to end the season.
“We will just prepare one game at a time and hopefully that leads to good results our way,” Sutton said.
