Pictures: TREVOR JACKSON
IT was a tough grind for the Mount Gambier Pioneers women on Saturday night, but the side managed to eke out a win in the Basketball SA Premier League elimination final against West Adelaide Bearcats.
A big crowd poured into the Icehouse to witness the women’s first finals foray in the league, with the exciting spectacle keeping the supporters on the edge of their seats.
In the end it came down to the last play with just seconds remaining in the contest as the Pioneers claimed a two-point victory to advance deeper into the playoffs.
The crowd erupted as the bench players streamed onto the floor to congratulate each other after the hard-fought and well-deserved win.
Coach Matt Sutton used just six players in the tense match-up, with American Pachis Roberts topping the score sheets with 26 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Captain Amanda Frost contributed 25, but it was Limestone Coast star Melissa Russell who lit up the floor.
Russell finished with an impressive triple-double, which included 12 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
Her experience paid dividends as the game went down to the wire, with the final result testament to the hard work around the floor by all players.
Penola youngster Emily Winter was also impressive with 14 points and seven rebounds, while the Wormald sisters Maddy and Olivia had an impact at both ends of the floor.
The game began at break-neck pace, with the Bearcats imposing a stifling brand of full-court defence, which the Pioneers struggled to deal with.
After close to five minutes of play the visitors led by 10 points, but from there the Pioneers began to close the margin down.
With some impressive offensive play and a three-point jumper late in the quarter from Roberts, the Pioneers went to the first break one point clear.
The Bearcats wrestled the lead back early in the second off a Tahlia Fejo triple, then built an eight-point margin off some strong play around the basket from Kristina Arsenic.
The two sides then traded baskets until with a bit over a minute to play scores were tied.
Alex Pearce had the last say in the term to put the Bearcats up by two at the long break.
The Bearcats found the first basket of the third term, but back-to-back threes from Frost saw the home side up again.
That continued throughout the term, but late in the quarter Winter dropped a pair of twos to eventually see the Pioneers lead by three heading into the final stanza.
From there the excitement continued, with neither side able to make a decisive break.
The Pioneers held the advantage early, but then the lead changed hands several times until with just two minutes to play the Bearcats took a one-point advantage after a tough layup from the dangerous Fejo.
Roberts responded for the home side, then two of three free throws to Maddy Wormald put the Pioneers in front by three.
Ashleigh Spencer reduced that to one for the visitors, but with just five seconds on the clock Roberts was successful with one of two free throws for a two-point lead.
The game then came down to the final play, as Jasmin Fejo drove to the basket and fired off one shot for the visitors, but it was not successful and the Pioneers celebrated.
Sutton was clearly stunned by the result, which was testament to his work on the sidelines in his rookie year at the helm.
He said after reviewing the game on Sunday he had now returned to reality and was preparing for the next challenge.
The final minutes were certainly intense, but Sutton was satisfied the result went the right way.
“I’m not sure what they spoke about (at the final time out), but the end result of a layup would have been a good result for them,” Sutton said.
“We were a bit fortunate the shot missed, but the girls worked so hard and deserved the win.”
As the game tipped off Sutton said he was a bit disappointed with the early minutes, as the Bearcats applied a press and forced mistakes from the Pioneers.
“I was a bit disappointed because we did a lot of work on their press and knew what to expect,” he said.
“We had some poor skill executions, which was frustrating, but the girls held strong.
“They have always been resilient as a group and been able to adjust and react well to things that are not necessarily going our way, so I’m not surprised they got themselves back into the game.”
However, even after turning the tide, the Pioneers faced a tough challenge for the entire 40 minutes.
“They threatened to run away with the game a few times, but we had girls who were willing to make plays,” Sutton said.
“They changed their defence up a lot which makes it hard to find an offensive structure, so we just gave the girls the green light to be really aggressive and take the opportunities as they came.
“They did and in the end we scored over 80 points.”
A lot of those scoring opportunities came from the Russell’s impressive night, which Sutton said he was not surprised with.
“She is an experienced player who is not afraid of any moment, which she proved against Forestville last time,” he said.
“I’m not surprised when the team needed her she came up big.
“She is a skilled player who has a lot of experience and it was definitely what the team needed in a big game.”
Winter faced plenty of pressure around the basket, but stood tall, which Sutton said was impressive.
“We ask a lot of Emily, she gets us a lot of second opportunities and is not afraid of the physicality of a basketball game,” he said.
“We rely on her a lot at both ends and she was able to produce for us.”
Sutton said a late mistake could have have cost the Pioneers the game, but Roberts and Maddy Wormald combined to gain possession and give the Pioneers a chance to win.
But the result was still up for grabs as Jasmin Fejo drove towards the basket in the dying seconds.
“Jasmin Fejo is a dangerous player in those situations,” Sutton said.
“You could just see it unfolding – she was getting closer to the hoop and finding the space she needed.
“We were able to apply enough pressure to force her to miss, but it was one of those scary situations where they play so fast it is hard to communicate to your players to be in the right position.
“I just had to rely on the girls to get the job done and we were fortunate in the end.”
The Pioneers now prepare for another playoff clash, this time against Eastern Mavericks in Adelaide on Saturday night.
