Johanna Jones | Signs For OneFortyOne Mount Gambier Pioneers Season 2022

The OneFortyOne Pioneers have hit the ground running confirming the commitment of talented young guard Johanna Jones for the 2022NBL1 South season. Head Coach Matt Sutton is excited to have Joey’s commitment as the club's recruiting drive is in full swing and Joey is the first of the returning players to commit to season 2022.

'I am really pleased to be able to continue to work with Johanna Jones, she is an incredible talent with a lot of potential’ Head Coach, Matt Sutton said.

Joey moved from Victoria and is attending school in our community. Joey joined the Mount Gambier Pioneers in 2021 and she moved across the border to Mount Gambier after playing with the Warrnambool Mermaids in the BigV competition.

"The COVID situation was really tough for Joey over the past season given her family is across the border, she showed a lot of maturity dealing with that for a young person.'' Joey has been on court already working on different areas of her game and is starting to really understand and buy into the work it takes to compete at this level.' Matt Sutton said.

The Pioneers Basketball Club expanded its program to include a women’s team in 2019 as they entered the South Australian Premier League. The club was then offered elevation to the NBL1 South conference for season 2020. Unfortunately, the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID and the 2021 season was cancelled after only 13 completed games due to the extended lockdown in Victoria.

In the clubs first NBL1 South season the OneFortyOne Pioneers posted three wins, although the progress that the squad were making prior to the cancellation of the season was impressive. The club’s recruiting drive is in full swing, hoping to add size and depth to the core group of players from the 2021 season. Developing young up and coming athletes who are committed to playing at higher levels of competition is and will remain key for the Pioneers.

“Having a young talent in Joey commit to our women’s program in the early day’s is crucial for our basketball club “. President Tom Kosch said.“

Offering the pathway for development for an aspirational young basketball player is exactly what our club and the NBL1 competition provides. We look forward to offering this opportunity to more and more young players in the future”.

The Club will make announcements about returning players and new signings for the 2022 season in the coming weeks.