On Friday, Jan. 30, boys’ basketball (13-7) secured a 49-42 senior night win over Jefferson High School in a hard-fought matchup, clinching a spot in the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs with its fifth league win of the season.
Before the match, seniors Rowan Maher, Kyle Igushi, Payton Fong Heady, Jean-Luc Uharriet, and Zach Zamalin walked out onto the court with their families as the crowd recognized the accomplishments they made throughout high school.
The Panthers struggled in the first quarter against Jefferson’s offense, but later adjusted to close the deficit. Both teams also played strong defensivethroughout the match, until the fourth quarter, when they each scored 16 points.
Head coach David Lopez said he was proud of the team’s response to their slow start and reflected fondly on all the seniors graduating from the program.
“They’re all role models for our underclassmen,” Lopez said. “Each one of them has a different kind of way of leading, and each one of them made a great impact on all our younger players in the program, so it’s just been really great to see them take that leadership role for us.”
Lopez noted the team’s offensive approach and their improvements throughout the season.
“At the end of the day, we had a better shooting performance from [3-point line], and then our defense, for the most part, was pretty solid,” Lopez said. “Overall, definitely points to improve, but it’s always nice to get a win when you’re able to still improve.”
Fong Heady expressed similar feelings and said the coach’s message allowed the team to gain momentum in the game.
“Something that worked out today was when we started swinging the ball a lot more and stopped being so stagnant, started flowing really well, and it started opening up lanes to where we could score easily,” Fong Heady said.
For Fong Heady, the team’s chemistry translated onto the court.
“I really appreciate everyone that’s on the team. I became really close friends with everyone here. I just built a great bond with all of my teammates I’ve ever had and all of my coaches,” Fong Heady said. “Just overall, the environment has been amazing, always positive, and I just love playing basketball.”
Maher also acknowledged the significance of senior night and the bonds he built with each team member.
“You wait four years for this one game, and you feel everyone’s here for you. It definitely weighs in on you and dawns on you right before the game,” Maher said. “You just kind of sit there hoping that you can prove yourself to all the people the four years you’ve been playing basketball.”
The Panthers now face Half Moon Bay High School on Wednesday, Feb. 4, which shares the same overall record at 13-7, as they look ahead to the playoffs.
