MOUNT Gambier Pioneers are on top of the NBL1 South Men’s competition ladder following two huge wins in Round 1 of the competition. The sole South Australian side in the league made the long road trek to Geelong on Saturday night where the Pioneers bulldozed United to win 108-58, before heading home via Keilor to collect another win, this time by 24 points over the Thunder.

An incredible four-quarter performance had the home fans silenced early and were never able to get going as the Pioneers piled on 32 points to 12 in the opening quarter. That domination continued throughout the match, with Geelong getting a little more competitive in the second, but ultimately unable to quell the South Australian side and suffering a heavy 50-point defeat at The Geelong Arena.

Akech Aliir was phenomenal throughout the match, recording a double-double of 31 points and 10 rebound, shooting eight of 10 from inside the arc and nine of 14 from the field. He and Joe Palmer (17 points, 12 rebounds) did the bulk of the damage, as Aliir shot 100 per cent from the charity stripe (12/12) and denied the opposition with three blocks.

Titus Robinson (15 points, nine rebounds), Austin Shelley (15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals) and Alex Mudronja (12 points, three rebounds and two assists) all combined strongly for the entire starting five to hit double-digit points.

Tristan Forsyth (13 points, five rebounds and two steals) and Marach Marach (11 points and two rebounds) were really the only scorers of note for the home side with Geelong well beaten on the opening day of the NBL1 South season.

Producing an equally strong start on Sunday, the Pioneers blasted their way to a 13-point lead at quarter time against the Thunder, before growing that to 18 at the main break. By the last change it was out to 25 and the game was done and dusted. Preparing for the long trip home, the Pioneers rested up a little in the last as the Thunder kept fighting to win the final term though Mount Gambier picked up the 100-76 victory.

It was Palmer that stole the show on this occasion, recording a second straight double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds. He also had three assists, while Shelley (20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals) was prominent. Aliir still put up great numbers of 16 points, five rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals, while Robinson (18 points, four rebounds) and Mudronja (12 points, seven assists and five rebounds) completed another dominant starting five performance.

Daniel Foster (14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists) did all her could for the Thunder in a losing effort, while skipper Deng Dut (18 points) and Daniel Poelsma (14) both reached double-digit points on the day.

SOUTH ROUND 1 RESULTS:

Saturday, March 29:

North West Tasmania (84) def. by Hobart Chargers (85)
Geelong United (58) def. by Mt Gambier Pioneers (108)
Casey Cavaliers (87) def. Dandenong Rangers (80)
Ballarat Miners (109) def. Bendigo Braves (75)
Frankston Blues (103) def. Sandringham Sabres (80)
Knox Raiders (88) def. Kilsyth Cobras (84)
Diamond Valley Eagles (82) def. by Keilor Thunder (97)
Eltham Wildcats (72) def. by Ringwood Hawks (82)
Waverley Falcons (98) def. Nunawading Spectres (83)

Sunday, March 30:

Keilor Thunder (76) def. by Mt Gambier Pioneers (100)
Dandenong Rangers 100) def. by Diamond Valley Eagles (105)
Melbourne Tigers (100) def. Sandringham Sabres (69)

ACROSS THE COUNTRY SCOREBOARD:

NBL1 CENTRAL: ROUND 1

Forestville Eagles (101) def. Sturt Sabres (83)
North Adelaide Rockets (76) def. Norwood Flames (65)
West Adelaide Bearcats (97) def. Woodville Warriors (58)
Southern Tigers (61) def. by South Adelaide Panthers (86)
Central District Lions (95) def. Eastern Mavericks (93)

NBL1 EAST: ROUND 1

Centre of Excellence (84) def. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (56)
Bankstown Bruins (86) def. Norths Bears (70)
Hornsby Ku-ring-Gai Spiders (71) def. by Central Coast Crusaders (84)
Sutherland Sharks (81) def. Penrith Panthers (78)
Illawarra Hawks (96) def. Maitland Mustangs (88)
Newcastle Falcons (67) def. by Sydney Comets (71)
Albury-Wodonga Bandits (75) def. by Canberra Gunners (96)
Bankstown Bruins (65) def. by Centre of Excellence (102)