By Trevor Jackson
IT has come to the business end of the 2024 NBL1 South season, with the Mount Gambier Pioneers men in the box seat.
The Pioneers finished top of the ladder after the minor rounds, after a stellar season which yielded 17 wins and five losses.
This weekend they host the fourth-placed Sandringham Sabres, who finished the season with a 15/7 win/loss record, in the first round of playoffs.
The Sabres always provide a strong roster, with the two sides going head-to-head back in the opening round of the season.
That game went to the Pioneers to tune of 18 points, after a 27-11 second quarter blew the game apart.
The Pioneers led by 19 points at the main break and held the Sabres at bay from there.
Double-figure scoring was the recipe for success, with vie Pioneers reaching the mark.
That included a double-double – 20 points and 10 rebounds – from Nick Marshall.
Since that early stage of the season the Pioneers have certainly improved, but so have all the other teams.
Last week’s win over the Ringwood Hawks certainly showed the strength of the Pioneers at this point, with the 117-75 scoreline impressive.
This time the double-double came from Akech Aliir, with 29 points and 19 rebounds.
It was a huge effort from the big forward, who has improved week in, week out and averages 18.77 points and 10.18 rebounds per game.
Led well by the experienced Kane deWit, the Pioneers may not boast the big NBL names of some sides, but certainly hold their own against any opponent.
Of course Marshall just keeps doing his thing, while Austin Shelley has been an anchor for the Pioneers all season.
He averages close to 13 points a game and has stepped up when the side has needed, including injury issues and personnel unavailable.
His efforts have not gone unnoticed by coach Richard Hill, who has had nothing but praise for the young guard.
Christian Peevy has stepped up and found his feet with the Pioneers, now averaging 11.67 points per game.
Crowd favourite Titus Robinson has built up to his best where he now also averages double-figure scoring, with 11.14 points per game.
Add to that the work off the bench of Dylan Marshall, who has found some solid form, the returning Tom Daly, who has had an interrupted year with injury and Vincent Monaghan, who continued to add value to the roster and it is clear to see why the Pioneers have enjoyed a successful season.
The Pioneers are at home this weekend thanks to their top-placed finish, which should provide some advantage, despite having a better away record this season.
It was in fact the first time the Pioneers have claimed an undefeated record on the road.
For now the Pioneers destiny is in their own hands, with the first piece of the puzzle to be placed on Saturday night at Wulanda.
This is certainly a game not to be missed by Pioneers supporters, with the convention centre expected to be at capacity.
The Pioneers will win this one, but not without a real fight from the Sabres.
The game tips off at 7pm, ACST.
