South Spotlight | Fresh Wildcats overpower Pioneers

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The fresh legs of the Eltham Wildcats paid dividends in the finish as they outlasted the Mount Gambier Pioneers for the 97-90 Sunday NBL1 South victory with Lil Dart putting up 31 points on 18 three-point shot attempts.

The Wildcats hadn’t played since beating the Nunawading Spectres last Sunday as they hosted a Pioneers team at Montmorency Secondary College who were fresh off beating the Bendigo Braves the previous night.

Then even when Eltham opened up an 18-point lead in the third quarter, Mount Gambier dug deep to hit back only for the Wildcats again to get out by 15 in the last term before securing the seven-point victory.

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The win improves the Wildcats to 9-2 on the season with three straight wins while the Pioneers split their road double to head back home at 6-5.

Lil Dart made a hot start for Eltham with 14 points in the first quarter on her way to 31 points, eight assists, five rebounds and tow steals with 5/18 three-point shooting.

Bec Pizzey also ended up with 19 points, six rebounds and two steals with Mackenzie Smith adding 18 points and five rebounds, Sarah Elsworthy 10 points, nine assists, four steals and three boards, and Sara-Rose Smith five points, 13 rebounds and four assists.

The Pioneers now head home having split their road double this weekend with Carla Pitman delivering 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals on 9/15 field goal shooting.

Tilly Boler added 20 points and seven rebounds for Mount Gambier, Abby Prohaska 17 points, six boards and five assists, Grace Champion 14 points, three rebounds and two assists, and Lara Edmanson nine points, nine boards, four assists and two steals.

Eltham were playing their first game of the weekend while Mount Gambier were backing up from a big win in Bendigo the night before and it was the home team leading 29-13 by the end of the first quarter.

Lil Dart already had 14 points on the board for the Wildcats and while she didn’t score in the second term, the Wildcats maintained their advantage to go into half-time leading 46-41 with Mackenzie Smith up to 13 points by the break.

There wasn’t much between the two teams with Eltham shooting 17/40 to 16/38 along with 4/18 to 3/14 from deep, and 8/13 to 6/10 at the foul line.

It was a high-scoring third quarter from both teams with Eltham putting up 28 points on 12/21 shooting while Mount Gambier added 27 on 10/23 as they stormed back from an 18-point deficit to be back within six at three quarter-time.

The Wildcats pushed back out to a 15-point lead during the final period and with their fresh legs they were able to secure the seven-point victory from there.

Eltham will now host the Hobart Chargers next Saturday night while Mount Gambier are back home for the next five matches starting on Saturday against the Casey Cavaliers.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | ROUND 7

ELTHAM WILDCATS 97 (Dart 31, Pizzey 19, M Smith 18)

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 90 (Pitman 25, Boler 20, Prohaska 17)