With the 2025 NBL1 South season fast approaching the Castec Rural and One Forty One Pioneers are set to make another splash in the conference after a historic 2024 season.
Last year both sides were teams to be reckoned with as the men had an outstanding season, finishing the year with a record of 17-5 which rewarded them with the number one spot in the playoffs with two home finals.
The women also had a terrific season, recording 14 wins and finishing fourth on the ladder.
Unfortunately, come finals, the men could not replicate the success they had in the regular season, going out in straight sets, losing to the Sandringham Sabres and the Eltham Wildcats.
However, the women had a bit more success in the post season, traveling to Knox and snaring a thrilling 86-78 victory to secure a home preliminary final against the Waverley Falcons.
Sadly they fell short, with the Falcons claiming the win.
The calibre of the Mount Gambier teams was recognised at the NBL1 South end of season awards, with the Pioneers claiming some prestigious silverware.
Men’s head coach Richard Hill was named with Coach of the Year while Nick Marshall was awarded MVP and also selected in the all-star five along with teammate Akech Aliir.
Pioneers President Tom Kosch was named Executive of the Year.
Despite the big departures from Nick Marshall and Zitina Aokuso both teams have recruited well in the offseason and look better than ever in 2025.
The men have three new additions to the squad as Alex Mudronja, Kaden Archie and Joe Palmer will all suit up for the Pioneers this season.
Archie and Palmer hail from the United States, both playing in the collegiate system and going pro overseas.
Mudronja is a home-grown talent from Australia who has lots of basketball experience, playing college ball in America as well as in Malaysia and India.
At home Mudronja has had success at different levels of the basketball pyramid playing in both the NBL1 along with stints in the NBL for teams like the Adelaide 36ers, Illawarra Hawks and Cairns Taipans.
The women’s side has been very active in the off season, signing four new players to the team.
Catherine MacGregor, Jayda Jensen and Chloe Hildebrand all have great experience in NBL1 while other recruit Maddy Timms comes across from New Zealand after playing in the New Zealand Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa.
So far in 2025 both sides have looked good in their preseason games, playing in the Millicent 4 team challenge and going up against the Diamond Valley Eagles, Norwood Flames and Woodville Warriors earlier this month.
The men had another match this month as they took on Geelong United in Portland and came away with a nice win.
Both sides headed across the border a couple of weeks ago for the annual NBL1 Blitz.
The men took on the Ringwood Hawks and Bendigo Braves while the women faced the Dandenong Rangers.
For the final preparations before the season began, the men travelled to Melbourne again to take on the Knox Raiders after the original plan to have the season launch and preseason game at Mount Gambier fell through.
The men and women will be on the road to kick off the NBL1 2025 season as they face Geelong on Saturday, followed by a match against Keilor on Sunday in Round 1.
