The 2022 NBL1 South finals are here and the Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier Pioneers looked made for the big stage last Friday night when they held off Kilsyth by 10 points.
With a huge and vocal crowd behind them at The Icehouse, the Pioneers put in a consistent four-quarter effort and are now just one win away from the big dance.
Although Richard Hill’s team had the home-court advantage, the Cobras entered the contest with momentum after winning their final eight games of the season.
Despite Tom Kubank finding the first basket of the night, the visitors seized control early with some sharp shooting from Timothy Lang and Jamie Ahale.
Once Corey Jeffs had joined the party scoring seven straight points, Kilsyth had doubled Mount Gambier’s score across the first three minutes and the crowd was quiet.
But soon the slippery court started catching players out and a slip up from Jamie Ahale created the perfect opportunity for Kubank to perform a slam dunk and steal the lead in style after the hosts scored six points in a minute.
The Pioneers offense continued to attack with force and ran out the quarter to take a handy 10-point lead into the first change.
Although Jordan Rawls and Kubank started the second term strong, the height of Deng Deng kept the Cobras interested.
Deng Deng was collecting points, dunks and turnovers, but his fun was silenced by a devastating block from Mount Gambier’s big man Clevon Brown.
With the Cobras’ comeback decimated the Pioneers went on a run of their own and threatened to take the game away.
Marshall, Kubank and Kane de Wit were unstoppable around the ring and pushed the lead out to a game-high 19 points.
Despite Mount Gambier on a roll during a 28-point second term, Deng Deng returned to make some key baskets before half time to just keep his side in the game.
Kilsyth continued to show some fighting qualities across the third quarter which turned out to be its most productive of the night.
Lang and Deng Deng were difficult to stop as the Cobras threatened to cut down the deficit as the Pioneers ran into foul trouble.
With three-quarter time approaching Kilsyth started to creep back into the game, but a brilliant Alley-Oop setup by Kyle Tipene and executed by Brown was a strong reminder of who was on top.
While the Pioneers were still wowing the crowd, the Cobras were able to haul the margin into just nine points to keep everyone on the edge of their seats heading into the final quarter.
Recognising their moment Mount Gambier reconsolidated its lead during the opening three minutes of the fourth term with regular baskets around the paint, while Kilsyth was reduced to free throws.
Neither side was able to land a major blow until the final stages as the nerves and tension rose.
Although the Pioneers maintained at 10-point lead with three minutes to go, the Cobras were still within striking distance, especially with fouls still troubling the hosts and de Wit fouled out to the dismay of the crowd.
A steal from Jeffs could have been the opportunity Kilsyth was searching for, but a flying block from Kubank out of nowhere was a sign it was Mount Gambier’s night.
Marshall, Harris, Kubank, de Wit, Brown and Rawls all shot double-figure tallies in the consistent four-quarter effort, while Deng Deng was the leading Cobra with 22 points.
As the Pioneers embraced their fans during the post-match celebrations, Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now blasted around The Icehouse and could this be the soundtrack behind the side’s title pursuit?
The Pioneers will play off for a spot in the big dance with a home preliminary final this Sunday at The Icehouse.
