Trevor Jackson
IT was the ideal way to start the 2023 NBL1 South Season for the Mount Gambier Pioneers men, with two wins on the road over the weekend.
The Pioneers travelled to take on Sandringham Sabres on Saturday night and recorded a strong victory, before holding off a determined Nunawading Spectres on Sunday.
Against the Sabres the Pioneers won all-but one quarter, with a 31-23 opening term setting the scene.
A more-even second quarter followed, but the third term opened the game up as the Pioneers ran rampant with a 39-20 result.
That put the game out of the reach of the home side, despite a determined effort by the Sabres down the stretch, as the Pi0oneers eased to a 119-89 victory.
It was an unfamiliar Pioneers roster, with just a few names present from the 2022 season.
That included captain Kane de Wit, Nick Marshall and Toby de Wit.
However, the new names are set to become fan favourites after the opening clash.
Marshall topped the score sheets with a 32-point return, but Jacob Lampkin also lit up the scoresheets, with an impressive double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds.
He also showed plenty of class as he went about his duties and is certain to ignite the home crowd when the Pioneers host their first home game after Easter.
Julian Peseva contributed 21 points and William Mayfield 16.
American import Christopher Seeley also achieved a double-double, with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Pioneers then faced the Spectres and expected a tough contest.
In the end they claimed the win by 10 points and were certainly pushed to the final buzzer.
It was a 33-19 second quarter which made the difference.
At the start of the final term the Pioneers looked relatively comfortable with a 14-point advantage.
However, the Spectres were certainly not done and piled on the pressure.
With two minutes to play the Spectres had reduced the margin to just four points.
A Dylan Marshall two with a successful free throw extended that margin, then Lampkin followed up soon after with layup to make the job tough for Nunawading as the clock wound down.
In the end the Pioneers prevailed with a 104-94 result to notch up a perfect start to the season.
This time Lampkin led the way with 31 points, followed by Nick Marshall with 28.
Mayfield (16) and Peseva (11) rounded out the double-figure scorers.
