With Miners tall Deng Acouth expected miss the remainder of the season with family commitments, the Pioneers power player always looked set to be the problem facing the Ballarat team.

And while lone big man Jock Perry did his bit with 19 points and seven rebounds, he was no match for Turner who hit 34 points and brought down 19 boards in the Pioneers 84-71 win.

It was a split weekend double for the Miners who held off a plucky Eltham by 10 points on Saturday night, thanks largely to a 16-0 opening few moments of the game. William Hickey top-scored with 21 points, including a clutch three-point bucket in the last quarter when Eltham had cut the lead to just five points.

But it was Emmett Naar's class all round, with 16 points at 66 per cent from the field and six assists that proved decisive.

Naar had 14 points to half-time, despite not coming onto the court until midway through the first quarter.

The results leave the Miners in eighth position on the ladder, equal on points with Bendigo.

They are scheduled to meet the play-off bound Geelong Supercats next weekend at home.

Scoreboards

Saturday: Ballarat Miners 86 (W. Hockey 21, E. Naar 16, J. Perry 14) def Eltham Wildcats 76 (A. Doyle 19, G. McKay 14)

Sunday: Ballarat Miners 71 (J. Perry 19, W. Hickey 15) def by Bendigo Pioneers (R. Turner 34, J. Foy 15)