By Lachlan Onions
A FIRST quarter blitz from Sandringham proved the difference in the Mount Gambier Pioneers men’s clash as the Sabres claimed a 95-84 win.
In the clash between two finals candidates, the star-studded Sandringham line-up stormed out of the blocks to take an early 15-point lead after just four minutes of play.
The Sabres extended their lead to 16 points at quarter time as the away side scored an emphatic 36 points in the first stanza.
The Pioneers fought back early in the second quarter and reduced the deficit to 11 points two minutes into the quarter.
However, Ben Ayre continued to be a thorn in the side for Mount Gambier and helped the Sabres extend the lead to 21 points late in the half.
A three-pointer from Nick Marshall managed to reduce the deficit to 18 points but the Pioneers faced an almighty task if they were to get back in the game in the second half.
Mount Gambier won the third quarter 20-18 but still trailed by 16 points with one quarter to play.
However, the Pioneers refused to die and went on a 9-2 run early in the final quarter to reduce the margin to a manageable nine points.
This was all in vain but as the Pioneers were held scoreless for the next five minutes and the Sabres put the game beyond doubt.
It was a match-up for the ages between Ayre and Nick Marshall as the pair traded blow for blow throughout the contest.
Ayre scored 39 points, while Marshall scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Nick Marshall was again supported by his brother Dylan, who notched up 15 points from the bench.
Leonard Harper-Baker recorded a double-double in his second game for the Pioneers with 10 points and 15 rebounds, while Austin Shelley scored 10 points.
The Pioneers will look to end their difficult run of form and return to the top four this weekend when they host the in-form Knox Raiders on Saturday.