Recap NBL1 South | Round 8 Friday

Hailey Leidel helped lift the Eltham Wildcats to the upset Friday night NBL1 South win over the Mount Gambier Pioneers while it was Ralph Bissainthe starring to make it the perfect night for the visitors.

The lone women's game on Friday night saw the Eltham Wildcats beat the Mount Gambier Pioneers 65-61 before the Wildcats men also prevailed 91-89 against the Pioneers.

RECAP NBL1 SOUTH | ROUND 7 SUNDAY

WOMEN

Mount Gambier Pioneers (61) lost to Eltham Wildcats (65)

The Eltham Wildcats opened up a big lead and then had to turn the momentum back around late to score the upset 65-61 road victory over the Mount Gambier Pioneers.

The Pioneers were looking to bounce back from Sunday's loss to Casey Cavaliers back home at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre up against a Wildcats team looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

It was in the second period where Eltham took charge of the contest outscoring Mount Gambier 20 points to nine to open up a lead by as much as 12 points, and to still be on top 34-24 by the half-time break away from home.

The lead for Eltham grew to 14 points in the third quarter as well but the job wasn’t done and Mount Gambier weren’t about to accept suffering consecutive defeats for the first time this season.

The Pioneers had only scored 43 points the entire first three quarters, but they did make a charge in the last term and a triple from Cara Nulty had the home team back within a point and with the momentum.

Zitina Aokuso then scored inside to put Mount Gambier back in front but it wouldn’t last long with Erin Riley restoring the lead for the Wildcats.

She then hit a triple to push the lead for Eltham back out to four points and eventually the visitors would go on to score the four-point victory to improve to a 5-6 record on the season.

Hailey Leidel had a big night in the win for the Wildcats finishing with 27 points, four rebounds and three assists on 9/16 shooting from the floor and 6/6 at the foul line.

Erin Riley added 20 points and 10 rebounds on 8/12 shooting with Bec Pizzey contributing nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

Mount Gambier slips to 9-3 on the season with back-to-back defeats with Sherrie Calleia top-scoring with 20 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals with 4/10 three-point shooting.

Isa Brancatisano added 12 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals, Haliegh Reinoehl 11 points and seven boards, and Zitina Aokuso nine points, eight rebounds and six assists.

The Wildcats back up on Sunday at home to the Hobart Chargers with Mount Gambier back at home next Friday to Geelong United.

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 61 (Calleia 20, Brancatisano 12, Reinoehl 11)

ELTHAM WILDCATS 65 (Leidel 27, Riley 20, Pizzey 9)

MEN

Mount Gambier Pioneers (89) lost to Eltham Wildcats (91)

The Eltham Wildcats produced a huge final minute to overrun the Mount Gambier Pioneers and claim the dramatic 91-89 victory on the road.

The league-leading Pioneers were back home at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre to play host to the Wildcats and it would prove an eventful and tightly contested evening with nothing more than eight points ever separating the sides.

It was Eltham leading by a point at quarter-time while maintaining that advantage at half-time going into the break leading 48-47.

It was Mount Gambier who made the biggest break of the game to move out to an eight-point advantage early in the third quarter, but the Wildcats weren't going away and stayed in touch.

But still, with just over a minute to play it was the Pioneers leading by five points following a dunk from Christian Peevy.

Eltham had to dig deep to get a win to keep them in touch with the playoff positions and they cut that deficit to three thanks to a three-pointer from Ralph Bissainthe.

Mount Gambier scored in response with a dunk to Akech Aliir thanks to the on-point pass from the baseline by Kane de Wit, but that would be the last score of the night from the Pioneers.

Sam Whelan knocked down the three for Eltham to cut it back to a one-point game and then Owen Foxwell made one foul shot to tie things up.

Mount Gambier had the chance to regain the lead, but Foxwell stole the ball from Nick Marshall and went up to score and give the Wildcats the 91-89 lead.

That's where the score would stay despite Peevy grabbing an offensive board for the home team but his put back bounced out. Time expired for Eltham to cling to the thrilling two-point win after the video review.

Ralph Bissainthe had a huge night for the Wildcats finishing with 33 points, five rebounds and three steals on 7/10 shooting from three-point territory.

Owen Foxwell also had 27 points and four rebounds with his new South East Melbourne Phoenix teammate Angus Glover ending up with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Mount Gambier slips to 9-3 with their five-game winning streak coming to an end with Nick Marshall delivering 30 points and eight rebounds.

Austin Shelley added 16 points and three rebounds, Akech Aliir 15 points and five boards, and Titus Robinson 12 points, four rebounds and two steals.

The Wildcats back up on Sunday at home to the Hobart Chargers with Mount Gambier back at home next Friday to Geelong United.

MOUNT GAMBIER PIONEERS 89 (N Marshall 30, Shelley 16, Aliir 15)

ELTHAM WILDCATS 91 (Bissainthe 33, Foxwell 27, Glover 10)