A little more than halfway through the season, the KHS Boys Basketball team has amassed 11 wins and six losses. Although they are 0-2 in Suburban South Conference games after road losses at Parkway Central and Webster, the Pioneers lead the Conference in scoring, with an average of 63.6 points per game.

Kirkwood’s other losses came in Columbia against Rock Bridge, in the Meramec Tournament, against 10th ranked area large school Fort Zumwalt South, third ranked area large school Hazelwood Central and second ranked area large school Chaminade in the Denver Miller Tournament championship game.

“We’ve played a schedule that’s very competitive. We’ve been close in all of our games against ranked teams but we haven’t always came away with wins. We’ve certainly learned from those experiences but we want to win those games” Bill Gunn, Varsity head coach, said.

The Pioneers have secured two wins overall against ranked small schools in the area with victories over number eight St. Charles West number five Duchesne in a Denver Miller Tournament semi final game.

“The leadership on this team is with the senior class. Especially Evan [Booker], Antonio [Weston], Jordan [Brown] and Eric [McWoods] because they have spent so much time at the varsity level” Gunn said.

Weston, senior, leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game. He is closely trailed by Evan Booker, senior Maryville commit, who averages 11.9 a game. Booker is also 5th in the area for blocks per game with 3.27.

“To me the high point of the season has been that we’re getting contributions from so many guys. Coming into the year we knew we had a strong senior class, but we’ve had contributions from as many as 12 guys on different nights” Gunn said.

Six Kirkwood players are averaging more than five points a game with nine players have scored than 50 points on the season. Juniors Amonte Mason, Alex Geary, Nick Matthews and David Haring have compiled 256 points so far this season, and all have seen significant minutes.

“Some of our juniors have really made positive contributions. Amonte Mason has really stepped up his game, as has Alex Geary. We’re really impressed with all they have got done as quickly as they have done it” Gunn said.

KHS finishes the season hosting the district tournament in March, hoping to improve on their loss to Vianney last year in the championship game.

“In order to improve, we have to understand that small things matter, and that small things turn into big things. It might be something as simple as boxing out or paying a little more attention to a scouting report. But I think as we firm things up we are gonna be really tough to beat in March” Gunn said.

All Stats Valid Through January 27, 2014