By Trevor Jackson
THE Mount Gambier Pioneers men returned to the winner’s list in style on Friday night, with a strong 102-80 victory over Kilsyth Cobras.
The NBL1 Round 9 clash saw the Pioneers at home at Wulanda, with the inclusion of Tom Kubank, finally back after a stint overseas, along with the injured Jacob Lampkin.
Both had an impact on the contest, specifically Lampkin who finished the night with a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double.
The game began as a tight contest, with neither side able to break away.
Austin Shelley opened proceedings for the Pioneers with an early layup, while Lampkin was soon on the board with a long-range triple.
A couple of threes to captain Kane deWit helped the Pioneers open a small gap, but the Cobras returned serve, with a pair of threes to Jamie Ahale to keep the visitors in touch.
A triple to Kubank late in the term put the Pioneers four points clear, but a late triple to the Cobras closed the margin to just one point at the first break.
Shelley put the icing on a 7-0 run early in the second term with a three-point bomb, but again the Cobras returned serve.
However, Leonard HarperBaker, Lampkin and Julian Pesava added three straight baskets to keep the Cobras at bay.
Despite the pressure, the Pioneers opened a handy 11-point margin at the long break.
The third term saw another even stoush, with the Cobras dangerous early.
Nicholas Feller hit a purple patch and drained three consecutive baskets for his side to close the margin to just six points, but Lampkin, deWit and HarperBaker combined to stretch it back out to 10.
By the final break the margin was 12 points and the Pioneers were on top.
Mid-way through the final term a 7-0 run to the Pioneers saw Cobra call a time out, but with a 25-point lead in hand, the Pioneers were home.
In the end the Pioneers were home by 22 points on the back of six double-figure scorers.
Lampkin was joined by Peseva, who topped the Mount Gambier list with 20 points.
Shelley added 16 points, Dylan Marshall 15 and HarperBaker 14.
For coach Richard Hill it was a welcome result, after the side struggled without the services of Lampkin.
“It was nice to get back on track,” he said.
“Having Jacob back on Friday night made a massive difference to us.
“We are still missing Nick Marshall and Tom Kubank only got in this week and was a bit jet-lagged.
“He has been an integral part of what we have been doing the last few years, is a pretty popular dude and a good team mate.”
HarperBaker was brought in to fill the void after the Pioneers sent an import home, plus the injury of Lampkin.
“We brought Leonard in and he will play one more game,” Hill said.
“He was cut from his team and was available when we needed someone.
“He has been good for us and had a very good game on Friday night.”
While HarperBaker is heading back home soon, Titus Robinson will return to the roster in the next week, which should help fill the size issues the Pioneers face.
The major problem is time is running out, with just 10 games left to play over a six-week period.
In that time the Pioneers need to be placed in a strong position for a good playoffs assault.
“We want to win six or seven of those last 10 games to have a chance in the playoffs,” Hill said.
“To win from outside the top four is hard.
“There are 19 teams and no easy teams.
“It is a final eight and just making the playoffs would be great, but a top-four finish will give us a chance.”
