Yeah, his team is 8-3. But Pioneer boys basketball coach Greg Gilmore sees plenty of room for improvement as the Titans approach the beginning of Del Rio League play next week.
Gilmore’s team opened the season at 6-0, and won the El Rancho Blue Pride Classic in fine form. But Pioneer is 2-3 since, the result of what Gilmore feels is a lazy defensive effort. The Titans opened the Huntington Park Tournament with a loss to San Pedro on Monday, and they’ll face Fremont in pool play tonight. They’ll continue tournament play Friday and Saturday.
“I guess a coach is never satisfied,” Gilmore laughed Wednesday, “but we’re not playing really well. Even though (we have a winning record), we’re not playing good basketball. Our defense is not as sharp as it should be … and we’re not playing as hard as we should be.”
Senior wing O’Shae Williams has been Pioneer’s most consistent player, leading the team in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (7.1). Williams has two 29-point efforts to his credit this season, and junior forward Kyle Henderson is averaging nearly 15 points.
“We’ve got a talented team, and we’ve been winning because of our talent,” Gilmore said. “We’re one of the favorites in (the Del Rio League), and teams are gonna come after us. I’ve been telling the team that what we’ve been doing now is not gonna get it done. … I’m just waiting for us to put it all together.”
The Titans should be helped by the addition of transfers Teran Massengill (Mayfair) and Cesar Trujillo (La Serna), who were cleared to play Monday.
Pioneer opens Del Rio League play Jan. 15 at home against La Serna. Tip off is 6:30 p.m.