Underdogs of the Year, Them Pioneers

I was scrolling through Twitter earlier today when I came across this tweet from West's Anfernee Boykins:

For some reason, it struck me. I got to thinking about it and Boykins is right: West High seems to be perennially an underdog, but this season they have taken the next step and become the "Underdog of the Year."

As the new year came, it seemed like another lost season for coach Phil Daignault and his Pioneers. They were laboring through a 1-6 season and Daignault's suspicions that this team was just too inexperienced appeared accurate. "I went into the season very skeptical," Daignault told me this afternoon. "We had so many question marks and I didn't know if these guys were going to be able to pull it off. I was thinking maybe a 1 or 2 win season."

Then something changed. The defensive intensity ratcheted up. The Pioneers started to believe. They beat Bishop Carroll, then went 2-1 in a competitive Colby tournament. They beat the City League leaders North (without Conner Frankamp). Then Heights, then South and then Southeast. Before last night's 64-52 loss to East, the Pioneers had won 7 of their last 9 games.

As the ever-important month of February progresses and sub-state season approaches, Daignault has a new sentiment about his team. "I know there are teams out there that are concerned to play us first round and rightly so because they better not take us lightly," he told me. "As a matter of fact, I hope they do."

So what has changed in two months? Let's dissect the Pioneers and discover what has them playing like a team that "nobody wants to play."
The most obvious change came when the new year turned over and Kennedy Bates and Anfernee Boykins became eligible. They immediately were inserted into the starting lineup and have played brilliantly ever since with Bates averaging a team-best 14.5 points and Boykins adding 12.3 a game. Those were the two pieces the Pioneers needed to group with their foundation of Jordan Kelly (13.9 ppg), the only returning varsity player this season, Abdoulie Njai (9.7 ppg) and Dwaune Bradley (7.4 ppg).

Although Bates and Boykins had been practicing with the team since the first semester, forming that on-court chemistry in games was required. It took a frustrating loss to Maize South to figure things out, but ever since the Pioneers left Hartman Arena on Jan. 5 they have been a different team. "They've been listening and working hard in practice and their development has really accelerated," Daignault said. "It's like they're not scared. They think we can get it done. They've bought in and they're confidence is growing."

After appearing to be in a battle with South to escape the cellar of the City League, the Pioneers' hot streak has them in a position to finish as high as 4th in the league. They're also in the most top-heavy sub-state in Class 5A and battling with Bishop Carroll (9-8) for the No. 5 seed. West will get its chance to possibly lock it up on Feb. 19 when it travels to Carroll to look for the season sweep. Last time the Eagles played West, their coach, Lonnie Lollar, went out of his way to tell Daignault after the game "if that team can play like that, you can go a long, long way."

"We proved we can play with anybody," Daignault told me. "We got that little monkey off our back saying that we can't win. It gives us the confidence to be able to go against anybody. We're not the fastest, we can't jump the highest, we're in the middle when it comes to talent level, bur we're finally getting our reward for our hustle and hard work."

The remaining schedule is brutal, as West hosts Kapaun on Friday, travels to Carroll next Tuesday then concludes its season with a road trip to North next Thursday. Coming away with just a single win from that trio would be excellent. After all, the Pioneers have already produced the most wins in a season in Daignault's 7 years. But it's looking like they'll have to settle for 8 or 9 wins, which means they'll likely draw Andover or Kapaun Mount Carmel in the first round.

Can West win a game like that? To reach the state tournament, it is almost certainly going to have to knock off back-to-back Top 10 teams to do so. They have a reputation of playing teams tough in the first round of sub-state, but never being able to finish off a win. They're certainly no reward for a higher-seed to host in the first round.

Daignault said his team cannot win unless it brings intensity to the defensive end of the floor and the statistics back him up. The Pioneers are 6-2 when they hold teams to under 60 points, while just 2-7 when they score over that amount. West has four capable scorers and a solid starting lineup, but the odds are not in its favor if it's going to try to win in shootouts. To play the role of spoiler, West will have to play smothering defense and make sure the other team never establishes an offensive rhythm.

Are the odds against the Pioneers? Absolutely. But it's nothing they're not already used to.

After all, them West High Pioneers are Underdogs of the Year.

"We're going to pack a lunch and go to work," Daignault said. "We're those blue collar workers that come home with their nails all bloodied and crusted. That's how you know you're working hard and that's our type of team."