In September 1987 the Mount Gambier Amateur Basketball Association made one of the most ambitious decisions in its history, to apply to enter the 1988 South Eastern Basketball League (now Australian Basketball Association) season. The Pioneers is Mount Gambier's only sporting team competing in a truly national competition. There is no doubt that the vision of Mr. A.A. Scott O A M together with many other business people in Mount Gambier to promote and fund a national sporting team enabled the Pioneers to be set up and flourish over the years.

The establishment of the Pioneers and the Icehouse have promoted the game of basketball, given it greater exposure in the region and provided much needed entertainment for people of all ages, especially families. It also continues to give local talented juniors a competition beyond the domestic scene for which to aspire.

The level and magnitude of support given the Pioneers by the business houses and public of the region was well beyond the wildest dreams of the Administration Committee. The overwhelming response necessitated two extensions to the seating of the icehouse, the venue for home games. The second, a major extension, costing in the vicinity of $100,000, was made through the generous assistance of the Mount Gambier City Council, once again indicating the confidence shown in such an imaginative venture in a country city.

Despite few on court successes in the first year of the Pioneers, capacity crowds and parochial support become their trade marks.

As the seating of the stadium increased so did the support and full houses for home games become commonplace. The Icehouse crowd is the envy of all visiting teams.

In 1991 the Scott Mobil Pioneers made the finals series for the first time but lost the semi-final narrowly to Ballarat.

Season 1997 was the Pioneers most successful season in its history with the side ending the regular home and away South Conference season in third position. The team then proceeded to win both its quarter and semi-final matches that saw it progress to its first ever Grand Final appearance against Hobart in Hobart. Whilst the Pioneers lost the final they did themselves, their supporters and corporate sponsors proud.

As a result of completing the South Conference season as runners up the Pioneers automatically qualified to compete in the National Finals for the first time in its history. Unfortunately the team lost its quarter final match and was eliminated from the finals.

To cap off a good season in 1997, at the conference awards presentation night the Pioneers collected six awards including two media awards for the best print media coverage of the competition and the best television coverage. This is indicative of the high profile the Pioneers enjoy in the media in the South East of South Australia. Furthermore the Pioneers collected the 'Administration of the Year' award for the fourth time in the club's ten year history. This is a sound indication of the professional level of administration behind the Pioneers and the respect in which the Pioneers are held throughout the basketball community in Australia.

Season 1998 saw the Continental Basketball Association go to a final four playoff situation for the first time to replace the final six format. Unfortunately our side finished sixth and missed the playoffs. However the year consolidated our progress to a side to be reckoned with.

The change of the National Basketball League from a winter to a summer season saw the Continental Basketball Association become the Australian Basketball Association and the number one winter basketball competition.

Season 1999 saw the Pioneers finish the regular home and away season in equal third spot but fourth on head to head calculations resulting in a quarter final on our home court. Before a full house the Pioneers unfortunately bowed out of the 1999 final race.

In Season 2000 the Pioneers won the right to play in the East Conference Grand Final against Frankston after winning their quarter and semi finals in Sydney against highly fancied Bankstown and Penrith.   Unfortunately the Club was unsuccessful in bringing a title home to the South East, but the achievement qualified them to play in the 2000 National Finals, where they were defeated in the Semi Final by Hobart.

In readiness for season 2001 Head Coach John Burns recruited heavily to replace numerous players from season 2000’ s list.  The team performed well finishing the season in second position, but unfortunately were beaten by Knox in the Semi Final.

2002 saw limited changes to the settled squad but were unlucky to come up short against perennial finalists Ballarat after finishing the minor round in third position.   A coaching change was forced halfway during this season when Coach Burns resigned to take up employment overseas.

  2003 season saw the core group together, with one addition, US Import Jamie Holmes was recruited to the Club in what proved to be the missing piece of the jigsaw.  Sweeping all before them this team completed the Home and Away season with a 21-5 conference record, League MVP Jamie Holmes, Conference Final MVP, Jamie Holmes, South Conference U/23 Player of the Year Kurt Russell and perennial All SEABL Team Member Damien Anderson and MVP Holmes also a member of this team.  An exciting win over Ballarat gained the Club their first ever conference Championship and ensured their participation in the National Championships, which coincidently ended in a comfortable win over fierce rivals Ballarat, yet again, and a National Championship, where Kurt Russell was named MVP.

In the aftermath of the 2003 titles, 2004 was always going to be a challenge to replicate those events.  The ability of the Club to keep the nucleus together was imperative for success, but the Club found inconsistency to be its worst enemy, with some excellent performances followed up by some less than impressive.  Still the Club managed to win enough games to ensure they made the play-offs, albeit with an exit in the Semi Final against Knox in the Qualifying Final.  A highlight being Damien Anderson being named to in All SEABL Team.

With a mass exodus of championship players 2005 was going to provide new challenges for all involved, with the Club entering a rebuilding phase.  Hampered by injuries to key players this was the first year that the Pioneers Basketball Club had not been a major part of the Finals series, finishing an unlucky 5^th.  Dallas Jeffree after another consistent season was named in the All SEABL Team.  This was the first season since 1998 that the Pioneers were not in Championship contention.

Season 2006 began with the appointment of Playing Coach Jason Sedlock and a relatively new look group.  Struck down by constant injuries the season was a frustrating one to all and a season that promised so much.  This team finished outside of the finals race for the second year in succession.

Since their inception in to the League the Pioneers have established themselves as a regular finalist in the Australian Basketball Association and all looks promising for the future.