By Trevor Jackson
A TOP-TWO finish has guaranteed the Mount Gambier Pioneers women two home finals in the NBL1 South Competition.
The women enjoyed a double-header road trip to complete the minor rounds over the weekend, with wins against the Waverly Falcons and the Eltham Wildcats.
It was a tough contest against the Falcons on Saturday night, with the Pioneers home by just six points.
The Pioneers trailed by four points at the first break, then stepped up th eintensity to win the next two terms.
They outscored the Falcons by five points in the second term, then seven in the third to create a tentative eight-point lead heading into the final stanza.
However, within a minute of the last quarter the Falcons trailed by just two after a pair of three-point bombs.
Maddi Utti then hit a two-pointer to draw even and the game was on in earnest.
Utti hit another two soon after to give the Falcons a one-point lead, before a triple from Cassandra Brown put the Pioneers back in the lead.
Haleigh Reinoehl added a two and the Pioneers extended the advantage, but again the Falcons hit back with a pair of free throws to again close the margin to two points.
Brown then hit a two, before Sophia Locandro drained a three for the Falcons and it was again a one-point game.
Miela Goodchild went to the line for three free throws and was successful with all to begin to open the margin with four minutes to play.
From there it was a matter of holding on as the Falcons’ foul count played against them.
Goodchild went to the line for a pair of free throws, sunk them both and the Pioneers were home with a 77-71 result.
Goodchild topped the score sheets for the Pioneers, with 25 points and she pulled down nine rebounds.
Brown (14), Reinoehl (11), Zitina Aokuso (11) and Sherrie Calleia (10) all reached double figures.
The Pioneers then headed to Eltham to face the Wildcats on Sunday and made an easy fist of it, with a strong 92-70 result.
A dominant 54 to 35 first half set the win up, as the Pioneers ensured they would grab two home finals.
This time it was Reinoehl who topped the score sheets, with a game-high 25 points.
Isabella Brancatisano contributed 20 points, while Goodchild added 19.
Brown did not take the court.
The Pioneers now face the third-placed Geelong United in the qualifying final at Wulanda on Friday night at 7pm, SA time.
