Game Preview: Pioneers face Braves

WOMEN:

The Mount Gambier Pioneers will host the Bendigo Braves at the Ice House in their season opener on Saturday at 6:15pm.  

The Pioneers have been through a year of uncertainty with the outbreak of COVID-19 and battling entry into the NBL1 South competition. With hard work and commitment from staff, managers and players they finally got the tick of approval to enter one of the best Winter leagues in Australia.

Matt Sutton who was appointed the head coaching job had the tough task of recruiting players for this upcoming season.

“We have a young team however, grit, grind and determination is something that isn’t lacking within them.”

Maddy and Olivia Wormald are both returning after an exceptional season in 2019 playing in the South Australia Premier League. They finished just short of the grand final position with a 14-6 win-loss record. Sutton was able to sign WNBL experienced players Hannah Young who previously won a WNBL Championship with the Canberra Capitals, Shakera Reilly (DP for the Canberra Capitals), Jasmin Howe (DP for the Townsville Fire) and Sherrie Calleia (DP for the Sydney Uni Flames). These four have really helped set the foundation for the Pioneers

Young guns Claire Hunter, Sarah Ritter, Keryl Ousey and Johanna Jones will be looking for experience to play against high calibre players throughout the season. 

The Braves will have Opal’s squad member Tess Madgen and WNBL experienced players Abigail Wehrung, Cassidy McClean and Kate Oliver. The Pioneers will match up well with the Braves as they both battle to get their first win of the season. 

MEN:

The Mount Gambier Pioneers will host the Bendigo Braves at the Ice House in their season opener on Saturday at 8:15pm. 

After over a year of uncertainty whether the Pioneers would remain, coach Richard Hill is looking to rebuild on the Pioneer legacy in one of the best leagues in Australia. There are many people who have sacrificed and battled to give the club the best opportunity to succeed in the NBL1.

Coach Hill has only two returning players from his 2019 campaign, Captain Tom Daly and 11-year veteran Erik “Eze” Burdon.

The Pioneers will have familiar faces returning to the team with Kane De Wit who is coming off back-to-back championships with the Forestville Eagles, his younger brother Toby De Wit and crowd favourite Kyle Tipene. Tom Kubank has relocated here from the NBL1 Central competition after a highly successful college career and will be making his debut for the pioneers.

The Pioneers have also added Adelaide 36ers training player Nick Marshall who has length, athleticism and a sweet shooting stroke. Mony Makoi is returning after a stint playing SANFL and Duom Dawam who has come to the Pioneers from Melbourne.

A vital piece both offensively and defensively will be American import Titus Robinson who has previously played for Coach Hill and will join the team in time for round 3. West Adelaide recruit Nik DeSantis unfortunately ruptured his ACL in a preseason carnival and will not be hitting the court this season.

The Bendigo Braves have acquired talented import Ray Turner who played for the Sydney Kings in 2019, Nelson Larkins who played with the Adelaide 36ers as a development player and Jacob Foy who is coming back from a NCAA Division 2 college in the United States.

With so much unknown about these two young but talented sides, this game will be interesting to see who wants that first win of the season more. Pioneer fans can expect to see a hardworking group of guys who will battle until the last whistle blows.