MaxPreps Student SectionThe
Pioneer (Woodland, Calif.) Patriots Varsity Boys Basketball Team went further into the postseason than any of its previous teams. The Patriots finished the season with a 20-8 record, which, to most standards, is nothing to be ashamed of. With a 73-60 win for the third time this season over Natomas High School in the opening game of the annual Tri-County Conference Tournament, Stefan Favila and James Tillman each scored 21 points, and the Patriots looked off to a good start. A 76-67 Overtime loss to the feisty Inderkum Tigers was a fist-clenching source of frustration for a team that knew they must play better and more complete if they were to have success in the real postseason (Alan Kritscher led Pioneer scoring with a 20 point effort). On February 24th, 2010, the Patriots’ dreams of competing in the postseason were finally contested; making it to the Playoffs was quite an accomplishment. However, “it wasn’t supposed to end this way.”
A 60-58 heartbreaking loss to 6th seeded Center High School of Antelope in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Boys Basketball State Playoffs was a debut-and-exit for the 11th seeded Patriots, as well as an emotional “Goodbye”. The Patriots will be graduating nine seniors; Nikhil Patel, Stefan Favila, Farrukh Ershad, Leslie Almodovar, Tyler Smith-Brothers, James Tillman, Alan Kritscher, Kulwant Singh, and foreign-exchange student Donatas Vasauskas from Lithuania. Stefan Favila, Tyler Smith-Brothers, and Alan Kritscher have been a rock-solid veteran trio on Varsity since their sophomore year.
In the game against the Center Cougars, James Tillman scored 28 points and Center played the entire first half without 6’8” star Connor Haysbert, who sustained an ankle injury in practice the day before. Many factors were not on Pioneer’s side in this game: height, home-court, and fouls down the stretch. It also didn’t help physically or emotionally that Pioneer’s beloved three-year point guard Stefan Favila was forced to watch helplessly from the stands in street clothes and an “I know I let you down” expression. For Favila, he missed the opportunity to share the exciting moment and glory of playing on the court “with his brothers” as he learned a few days earlier that he had become academically ineligible. Nikhil Patel stepped into the point guard role and played his heart out, but luck was unable to fill the shoes or take the command that Favila was so accustomed to providing on the court.
The script was all too familiar in the loss for the Patriots. Running the tank near empty and watching in disbelief as a late-game lead dwindled from victory’s grasp proved to be the end result yet once again. The thing about Pioneer is that this team can be dominant and “on fire” for most of the game, and no matter how much of an underdog on paper they seem to be, never quite let themselves be outright dominated by an opponent. What hurts the most is being so close, and yet not able to compete at the top of their game for an entire thirty-two minutes of a basketball game. It is not applicable to question the team’s competitive nature, athleticism, or even endurance. This team had leadership in a strong starting five and confidence in reserve players, so experience could not be held as a legitimate excuse for late-game blown leads. The answer to why Pioneer lost four games of their eight total losses by fewer than four points, plus two close losses in Overtime, still remains a mystery and will probably cost Coach Barry Reese a few extra sleepless nights this offseason.
Nonetheless, there is more to life than winning or losing a basketball game. Over the course of a season, a team comes to form a special bond and learns valuable life lessons. These include: sportsmanship, overcoming adversity, having integrity and being accountable, showing determination and playing with endurance. Passion for the game and teamwork are qualities that make a good team, just a little bit better. The season may be over, but no record or success can one-dimensionally measure the growth of these young men. Pioneer High School has yet to boast a more complete, all-around athletic and gifted team than the one at hand. Congratulations 2009-2010!
This is an open message to the team: do not carry a burden with you. We, the loyal Pioneer fans are proud of you and thank you for all of the exciting games and moments you have shared with us. Seniors, your presence will truly be missed, we wish you the very best in the bright futures ahead of you. Juniors, this team is now yours, remember to play with pride and leave it all on the court. May the memories live on and the sound of a basketball slicing through the net be carried with you to the final buzzer of your careers and there after. Seniors, you may have just played your final high school basketball game as a member of the Pioneer Patriots, but keep the door open, you have so much potential. After all, who really knows how far you could have gone if it were not for the “60-58” frozen on the scoreboard as time expired. It was just “two little”, too late.
