Pioneer girls winning streak snapped at 19
Rio Linda defeats Patriots 45-40 to avenge OT loss from Jan. 8
The streaks… are over. The Pioneer High School girls varsity basketball team had two lengthy winning streaks snapped to begin the week in Woodland. On Monday night, the Patriots hosted a rematch against Rio Linda, who they narrowly defeated 5352 in overtime three weeks prior on Jan. 8 in Sacramento County.
With Golden Empire League Championship implications on the line, the Knights (19-5, 7-1 GEL) pulled off a 45-40 upset. The loss is Pioneer's first overall since Dec. 4 at Marysville, ending a 19game success streak. The Patriots (22-3, 8-1) hadn't lost in GEL action since Feb. 4, 2022, snapping a streak of 21 straight league victories.
“We didn't play our best and missed a lot of shots. You've gotta give it to Rio Linda, they came out fast and took away our strengths. We found them later but our girls just couldn't hit a shot down the stretch,” said coach Sean Goldston. “We couldn't put anything sustained together. I think it was a good loss, if there's anything as a good loss, towards the end of the season because now they know that they're not invincible. 22-2 just went to 22-3 and that stings a bit heading into the last three games of the year. I hope that string resonates with them and makes them want to work harder.”
Pioneer suffered a significant injury in the third quarter of Monday's loss. Reigning GEL MVP, junior power forward Olivia Gill, sprained her right ankle and was helped off the court with 4:37 left in the period. She fought through the pain and returned with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter. However, Gill reaggravated the injury with 21.2 seconds left in the game and did not return. Goldston hopes to have her ready for the postseason.
“We'll probably see her on Senior Night just because I'll get her in the game. For right now, we'll probably have her rested as much as possible,” Goldston explained. “We'll see how it is. She'll get a nice long rest, hopefully come back and be able to move because she wasn't
moving too well when they wheeled her off the floor in a wheelchair. I don't wanna see that.”
Despite getting hurt, Gill finished with a gamehigh 17 points. Juniors, PF Peyton Thorpe & point guard Keziah MaldonadoLemus, and senior shooting guard Elizabeth Lopez each contributed 6 points, respectively.
“(Rio Linda is) always well coached. They're fast, young and hungry,” Goldston explained. “We have a bunch of seniors and I think we got a little full of ourselves. Coming in, we're the big dogs on the block going undefeated last year. I warned them that we have to take it one game at a time. This is probably the biggest one of the season but I don't mind losing it, it's OK. If I had to lose to a coach, it's good to lose to Jerry (Huffhines). He's a good coach, has been around a long time and I hope we see them in the playoffs.”
Gill scored back-toback layups to to start the game, then the Knights closed the opening period on a 16-3 run and led 16-7 after 8 minutes of play. The Patriots outscored Rio Linda 14-9 in the second quarter and trailed 25-21 at intermission. Gill set the tone to open the second half by blocking senior PF Myunique Hill on the first possession of the third period.
The defending GEL MVP then scored three straight buckets to reclaim the lead for Pioneer at 27-25. Two minutes later, she rolled her ankle and the momentum shifted back in Rio
Linda's favor. In a defensive quarter, the Patriots outscored the Knights 9-6 and trailed 31-30 entering the fourth.
Gill scored Pioneer's final points with 1:43 remaining, earning a 40-38 lead with a post move on the right block. Rio Linda scored the game's final 7 points to earn the win. The GEL rivals now have one league loss a piece, meaning if they each win out, they will be crowned co-champions.
After winning the league outright for the first time last year, the Patriots hope to do the same in 2024. Pioneer has three GEL games left in the regular season with two on the road, all beginning at 7 p.m. The Patriots play at Mesa Verde on Wednesday, at Woodland on Tuesday and versus Mira Loma next Thursday. In three victories this season against the remaining opponents, Pioneer has combined to outscore the trio 214-61.
“We're not overlooking anyone,” Goldston foreshadowed. “We've gotta win, one game at a time, losing sucks.”