Marshall pumped ahead of NBL1 South decider

Nick Marshall will be hoping to return to Adelaide to show off an NBL1 South championship as his Mount Gambier Pioneers prepare to take on Hobart in Saturday night’s decider.

Marshall starred for the Pioneers, who finished second on the table at season’s end, and averaged over 20 points per game.

“I can’t wait, it’s going to be a great weekend and hopefully we can get the win,” he told adelaide36ers.com.

“It’d be nice to come back with the ring and show everyone.”

The State Basketball Centre in Victoria will play host to the decider, and Marshall is backing in his side following an impressive away record.

“It’s a Melbourne competition, it’s going to be weird playing in Melbourne and all the fans are going to have to travel,” he said.

“All our road games for the year, we’d drive four hours the day before, play two games and then drive back.

“We’ve only lost one game on the road, so it should feel like home.”

The Pioneers started with a six-game winning run but hit a blip mid-season.

Yet, Marshall believes they’ve hit form at the right time of the year.

“It’s hard to maintain a high level throughout the year,” he said.

“NBL guys change teams a bit, and we hit a patch where we weren’t playing the way we want to.

“We hit a big double against Geelong and Bendigo, so we’re hitting form at the right time.

“Both of those wins ended Bendigo’s 11-game winning streak, and we thought we were back to playing how we wanted to.”

Marshall added shutting down NBL Rookie of the Year Harry Froling will be crucial to their chances.

“Last time we get him off from three, we’ll have to shut him down from there,” he said.

“We’re pretty small compared to them, so we’re going to have to rebound and crash the boards.

“I feel like we can play smart, we’re faster so hopefully we can run the floor and tire them out a bit.”

The decider gets underway at 7.30PM ACST.

Photos courtesy of Thomas Miles - SE Voice