Late three-point shooting lifts Pioneers in home opener thriller

The Castec Rural Pioneers opened their 2026 home campaign with a narrow win, holding off a fast-finishing Ballarat Miners outfit to secure a 101–99 victory at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.

 

Mount Gambier set the tone early, producing an offensive burst in the opening quarter to establish control of the contest. That momentum carried into the second term, with the Pioneers building a lead of as much as 15 points on the way to a 65–50 advantage at half-time.

 

Ballarat responded after the break with a defensive lift in the third quarter saw the Miners restrict the Pioneers’ scoring opportunities, cutting into the margin and setting up a tightly contested final period. With momentum shifting, the visitors eventually claimed a narrow lead late in the game following an alley-oop finish from Cearius Warren.

 

The Pioneers answered when it mattered most with Elijah Saifaleupolu stepping up with a crucial three-pointer to regain the lead, before Collin Moore followed moments later with another from beyond the arc to extend the margin. Those back-to-back shots proved decisive as Mount Gambier regained control in the closing stages.

 

Ballarat had one final opportunity to steal the result, but a missed attempt at the buzzer ensured the Pioneers would hold on for a two-point win.

 

Moore led the way with an outstanding all-round performance, finishing with 26 points, eight rebounds, five blocks, four assists and three steals. Ngor Manyang added 21 points and seven rebounds, while Saifaleupolu also contributed 21 points, knocking down five three-pointers.

 

Scott Telfer provided support with 13 points, while Lucas Gordon added eight points and seven rebounds in his first outing as a Pioneer.

 

The result sees Mount Gambier open their home schedule on a high note, executing in key moments to secure a hard-fought win in front of their home fans.

 

Attention now shifts to Round 4 of the NBL1 South season, with the Castec Rural Pioneers set to feature in the ANZAC Round on Saturday, April 25 against the Waverley Falcons.