Trevor Jackson
THE Mount Gambier Pioneers men suffered their second loss of the NBL1 South season, going down by 10 points to the Hobart Chargers at the Icehouse.
The Saturday night clash attracted a big crowd and the Pioneers put in a solid performance but a first-quarter onslaught by the visitors set the win up.
There was little in the contest from there but the Pioneers could not close the margin enough o threaten the visitors.
In fact, Hobart enjoyed a 19-point advantage early in the third term, before a Michael Harris triple gave the home crowd something to cheer about.
Tom Daly followed up with a two-point jumper but the Chargers responded and held a 16-point lead at the final change.
Mount Gambier then began to chip away at the lead in the final stanza before a Kane deWit layup had the side within five points of the visitors.
The Chargers again responded before triples to Harris and Tom Kubank reduced the deficit to just four points.
However, the Chargers took control from there and ran the game out for the win.
Harris topped the list for the Pioneers with 32 points, while Kubank (15) and Nick Marshall (13) were the only other Pioneers to reach double figures.
The Pioneers struggled to control NBL player Harry Froling, who used his size to advantage and finished with a game-high 43 points, along with 16 rebounds to stifle the home side.
For Pioneers coach Richard Hill it was a disappointing result, with Froling having a huge impact on the final outcome.
“They came out really hard and were very good,” he said.
“The big percentage of the game they were too big and too good and they punished us.”
“It wasn’t just (Harry Froling’s) size, he was just good.
“He is very talented it was one of the best games I have ever seen in the Icehouse ever.
“He had 43 points, was knocking down shots, rebounding, passing, doing everything.”
On the upside, Hill said it was one of Harris’s best games.
“His was an outstanding effort,” he said.
“We got back into the game on the back of his play.
“He had a tremendous game.”
With playoffs looming, there is still plenty to do for the Pioneers to claim a home final.
Only two teams qualify for a home final and Hill suggested 15 wins would do the job.
“That has to be our goal now,” he said.
“I think the back end of the year is pretty fragile and I think we need to find five more wins.
“It is getting tough.”
Eltham Wildcats will make the trip across the border to a frosty reception at the Icehouse on Saturday night.
Hill said while the Wildcats are currently bottom of the ladder, it would certainly not be an easy victory.
“Most people will think they are down near the bottom and we should roll over them,” he said.
“Eltham lost to Hobart by one point, they beat Frankston, they are like the majority of the teams on the bottom half of the ladder – they are all on the rise.
“They will bring in two guards who are outstanding, they have an athletic import and another guy who averages 20 points a game.
“It will be tough and that is the way it should be.”
Clearly the Pioneers are in the ideal position, sitting top of the ladder in what has so far been an outstanding season.
Hill said his players are enjoying the challenge, as he is and look forward to more challenges ahead.
“The boys are young and excited to play,” he said.
“We have five more home games and maybe we can win those and give us the games we need.
“Maybe we can conjure up a road win along the way which will be excellent.
“It is and exciting season.”
