By Lachlan Onions
WITH the Mount Gambier Pioneers’ NBL1 South season set to tip-off this weekend, the club held its season launch at the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre on Wednesday.
Women’s coach Matt Sutton spoke to The Border Watch at the launch and was excited for the new campaign which will see some fresh faces in Pioneers’ colours.
“Every year is a different year, so we are not comparing ourselves to last year,” he said.
“We are excited to write our own story this year.”
Zitina Aokuso, Miela Goodchild, Imogen Rock and Isabella Brancatisano headline the new additions to the team and Sutton said making use of the full squad would be important this season.
Mount Gambier will also be bolstered by the return of former player Keryl Ousey, who played for Sandringham in 2022.
“I think the squad we have put together will have a lot of things which will appeal to a basketball crowd and hopefully we can put it all together,” he said.
“The season is not going to come without interruptions.
“Zitina (Aokuso) is not here for Round 1, so we are going to have different players going in week-to-week and we will just rely on our team effort.”
After calling the Icehouse home since the return of the women’s team in 2019, the Pioneers will now play out of the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.
“It is exciting,” Sutton said.
“We are figuring it out as we go.
“The staff are so friendly, we are having a great time learning what it is like and it is just a great facility to be a part of.”
The fresh faces in the squad will be supported by Cassandra Brown, Haliegh Reinoehl and Sherrie Calleia, who will gear up for Mount Gambier once again.
Brown will lead the side this year as captain, while Brancatisano is vice-captain.
Sutton has been working hard through the preseason to build the chemistry of the side ahead of its opening-round double-header against the Sandringham Sabres and Nunawading Spectres.
He said his team’s effort will play a major part in the outcome of proceedings.
“We will prepare as well as we can like normal and hopefully results will go our way,” Sutton said.
“It is early days and we have a lot to put in place throughout the season, but if we can bring some effort as well as play the team game, it will certainly help us along the way.”
