By Lachlan Onions
IT was always going to be a tough clash for the Mount Gambier Pioneers men when they hosted the Knox Raiders on Saturday night.
The challenge was made all the more difficult as the Pioneers went into the game without their two star players in Jacob Lampkin and Nick Marshall.
The pair have average close to 50 points a game between them and their absence was felt as Mount Gambier suffered a 14-point loss.
The Pioneers had their backs to the wall from the outset as they had little answer for the size of the Raiders which was spearheaded by the seven-foot tall Deng Acouth.
However, despite the odds stacked against them, the hosts started strongly and matched the Raiders early in proceedings.
Knox went into the first break with a narrow one-point lead and the game was in the balance.
The Raiders began to up the ante in the second quarter and went into half time with a 38-30 lead.
However, the Pioneers showed no signs of giving up as they defended with their all to match their quality opposition in the third quarter and the score was 52-44 in favour of the Raiders with one quarter to play.
Ultimately, Knox proved too strong in the final quarter as it stretched its lead out and claimed a comfortable 77-63 win.
Pioneers captain Kane de Wit led the way for Mount Gambier with 16 points for the contest, while Julian Pesava scored 12 points in a hard-fought display.
Leonard Harper-Baker recorded a monster 18 rebounds to go along with his 10 points.
After a difficult month which has seen the Pioneers lose their last five games, they will return to Wulanda on Friday night when they take on the Kilsyth Cobras as they look to get their season back on track.
