By Lachlan Onions
THE Mount Gambier Pioneers women returned to form in style with a big win at Wulanda on Friday night.
Mount Gambier sent a bold statement to its NBL1 South competitors as it downed the previously undefeated Waverley Falcons by 16 points.
The contest started as an arm wrestle between two of the stronger sides in the competition but the Pioneers dealt the first blow as they went on a 10-point scoring run to take a 19-8 lead after five minutes.
The Falcons had no answer for star import Haliegh Reinoehl in the first quarter as she scored 14 points to guide the Pioneers to a 30-17 lead at the first break.
However, Waverley hit back in the second quarter and reduced the deficit to six points.
The visitors punished Mount Gambier close to the rim in the second quarter as they scored an impressive 18 points in the paint and shot 71 per cent of their two-point field goals.
Both teams traded blow for blow in the third stanza and the clash was set up for a thrilling finale with the Pioneers leading by just one point at the final break.
The Falcons’ star guard Rebecca Cole made a free throw in the first minute of the quarter to draw the game level and the stakes were high.
As pressure was mounting on the Pioneers, Miela Goodchild showed her class as she kick-started the quarter for the Pioneers with a three-point play from an and-one.
This was then followed by a two-pointer from Reinoehl which gave the Pioneers some breathing space.
From there, Mount Gambier remained in full control before putting the icing on the cake in the final few minutes of the quarter to put the game beyond doubt.
It was a strong display on the defensive end in the last quarter as Mount Gambier allowed just four field goals and 11 points for the period.
After missing last week’s double-header due to Australian commitments in the 3×3 World Cup Qualifiers, Goodchild returned to the Pioneers line-up and put in her best performance of the season.
In what has already been an emphatic first season in the Blue Lake City, the 22-year-old has put her hat in the ring as an early contender for conference MVP after a mammoth effort which included 37 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals.
This was Goodchild’s third-straight game with 30 or more points and her fourth double-double of the campaign.
She was supported by Reinoehl (25), Sherrie Calleia (11) and Isabella Brancatisano (16) who all scored more than 10 points in the contest.
It was a solid game for Reinoehl as she recorded 10 rebounds to go along with her season-high 25 points.
After a difficult fortnight which saw the Pioneers lose three straight games, their win has put them back in the top four and just two games outside the top two.
Mount Gambier will be back at Wulanda again this Friday when it hosts the Sandringham Sabres.
