THE fairy-tale reaches its next chapter tomorrow night when the Mount Gambier Pioneers women hit the road for a first semi-final clash against Eastern Mavericks in Adelaide.
After a thrilling two-point win in last week’s elimination final at the Icehouse, the Pioneers’ Basketball SA Premier League finals campaign remained alive, but they will face another tough opponent this week.
Again it will be a do-or-die contest, with no second chance and only the victors progressing deeper into the playoffs.
A tough battle is expected and the two sides sit with an even record this season.
Their meetings were back-to-back games in round 10 and 11 and were both decided by less than 10 points.
The Mavericks claimed a nine-point win on their home court in the first encounter, before the Pioneers responded the following week with a six-point triumph at the Icehouse.
It all suggests another thrilling clash, but Pioneers coach Matt Sutton believes his team is up to the challenge.
“I think we have prepared pretty well,” he said.
“Like any big game you try and cover all of your bases.
“I think the girls are pretty excited and we are all looking forward to Saturday.”
However, he is under no illusions it will be an easy outcome, whichever way the cookie crumbles.
“We will just put our best foot forward and hopefully we have prepared well enough and can produce on the night,” Sutton said.
“There is no way known this will be a walkover either way.
“I think we are up for the challenge and they certainly will be too.”
Just six Pioneers took to the floor last week and all put in solid performances, with Melissa Russell playing a standout game to finish with a triple-double.
Her efforts will be needed again this week, particularly in defence, as the Mavericks boast the women’s league top scorer in Carmen Tyson-Thomas.
She averages 27 points a game and loomed large in their previous encounters, with a combined 70 points from the two games.
“She is a really dominant player in the league,” Sutton said.
“She is a strong rebounder and a good player for them.
“It will come down to the person guarding her and how they can force her to miss shots.”
However, Tyson-Thomas can be kept below her average as shown in last week’s qualifying final, where the Forestville Eagles held her to 19 points on their way to a 10-point win.
And the Pioneers are not without their own firepower, as American imports Amanda Frost (22 points per game) and Pachiyaanna Roberts (20) sit second and fourth respectively on the league scoring ladder.
Add into the mix Penola young-gun Emily Winter and Russell, along with the Wormald sisters Maddy and Olivia and Mount Gambier has a well-rounded team despite its youth.
Sutton said the entire squad has put in the hard yards at training this week, with Saturday’s win providing a buzz around the club.
“The group has been really focused on this challenge ahead, but the days after the game the girls certainly had a glow about them,” he said.
“It was good to see them enjoy the moment.”
Sutton said while at the start of the year it would have been a big call to say the team would be in this position, he believes they have more-than proved themselves worthy of their achievements in their inaugural season.
“When you sit back and think about where it all started it might be a bit surreal, but we are very aware of where we are at and I feel like we deserve to be here now,” Sutton said.
“There is a really high level of focus and will to get the job done.”
The match tips off at St Francis de Sales tomorrow night at 7pm.
