South Spotlight | Pioneers lock down shorthanded Hawks

Featured image: @3 Point Photography by Tania Millard

The Ringwood Hawks were missing several key players and the Mount Gambier Pioneers held them to just four second quarter points on the way to the 76-42 home NBL1 South win.

The Pioneers were back home at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre trying to avoid a third consecutive loss while the Hawks had lost seven straight with just one win for 2026.

Ringwood were then also missing Ally Bates, Aneta Bandilovska, Emma Clarke and Izzy Feller with Mount Gambier holding them to just 11 points o 5/19 shooting before just four points on 2/13 in the second.

That saw the Pioneers build a 40-point lead in the end by final quarter on the way to winning by 34 to improve to a 7-6 record on the season.

The Hawks have now lost eight straight to be 1-12.

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The Pioneers didn’t have a standout offensive night themselves going 39 per cent from the field with 4/7 free throws and having 15 turnovers but they did collect 20 offensive rebounds.

Ringwood finished off shooting 24 per cent from the floor with just 1/2 at the foul line, and with 10 offensive boards and just the 10 turnovers.

It was a dominant display at home from Mount Gambier with Tilly Boler producing 21 points and eight rebounds with 9/17 field goal shooting.

Grace Champion added 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Pioneers, Abby Prohaska 11 points, seven boards and two assists, Lara Edmanson eight points and 14 rebounds, and Mackenzie Burke eight points and eight boards.

It was a rough night all-round for Ringwood in the absence of Ally Bates, Aneta Bandilovska, Emma Clarke and Izzy Feller with Jo Raflo top scoring with 12 points with four rebounds.

Chelby Koker also ended up with eight points, three rebounds and two assists, Taylor Mole eight points, three boards and two steals, and Honey Kaur seven points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Both teams came into the match up desperate for a win and it was a dominant start from Mount Gambier in the first quarter with 21 points to 11 on the back of 44 per cent shooting to just the 20 from the Hawks.

It was then a total dominant from Mount Gambier in the second term and the home team had 22 points on 9/23 shooting themselves, but they held Ringwood to just the four points in the entire 10 minutes on shooting 2/13 from the floor.

That saw the Pioneers on top 43-15 by half-time before extending that lead to 35 by three quarter-time even though Ringwood did at least manage 16 points having scored only 15 in the entire opening half.

The scoring really dried up for both teams in the last quarter with just the combined 21 points but Mount Gambier still cruised to the 34-point win to ensure they keep themselves right in the hunt at least for a top 10 spot.

The Pioneers now don't play again until hosting the Northern Force on Friday June 12 while Ringwood are in action the following night on the road to the Knox Raiders.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | HERITAGE ROUND

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 76 (Boler 21, Champion 18, Prohaska 11)

RINGWOOD HAWKS 42 (Raflo 12, Mole 8, Koker 8)