Liz Smith
Assistant Sports Editor
Varsity basketball’s undefeated season ended on a bittersweet note with a narrow loss in the California Interscholastic Federation Playoffs.
The team’s 52-60 loss to Brookside Christian in early March concluded the players’ season, but the entrance into the playoffs, a feat in its own, was possible with the determination of the team, according to one of the captains.
“The reason the team got so far this season was because all of us wanted it really bad,” senior guard India Pearce said. “We tried hard every day in practice and improved so much. We just knew we deserved to keep going and playing.”
The graduation of last year’s key players could have been a problem for the Cubs, but sophomore guard Gina Domergue saw the situation in another light.
“With all the old varsity team leaving, we became the underdogs to everyone,” Domergue said. “That really helped us because we had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
After finishing the regular season 11-0, Domergue elaborated on the team’s momentum.
“We didn’t need to prove anything to anyone,” Domergue said. “We never concentrated on proving all the people wrong that thought we couldn’t make it. We only concentrated on getting better, and our hard work led us to the championships.”
Pearce assumed a position of leadership this season, along with the other senior captains.
“The seniors on the team and I were the captains, but I was the only returning player,” Pearce said. “I knew the team was young and I’d have to be the voice of the team in times of need.”
With strong team chemistry and leadership, the season was a success, according to freshman point guard Jaime Hum-Nishikado.
“I couldn’t have asked for a more energetic team,” Hum-Nishikado said. “But my teammates also gave me the strength to never give in to the pressure in a game and taught me to always believe in myself.”
Although the Cubs didn’t end with a win, the 19-11 season had many high notes, according to Pearce. The team beat the University Red Devils in the Bay Counties League championship game after an upsetting loss to UHS last season, earning it a spot in the playoffs.
“My favorite part of the season was beating University in the championship game,” Pearce said. “It was so exciting getting revenge on them from the game last year, and we definitely deserved that win.”
The Cubs’ head coach Phil Galvin helped their game improve and inspired them to be better players, according to Domergue.
“Coach Phil would always say ‘You either get better or worse, there is no such thing as staying the same,’” Domergue said. “That always reminded me to do my best and to strive to get better.”
This team has not only improved as players of the game, but as people, according to Galvin.
“Their growth as players was nothing short of massive — the credit goes to them though, they took the coaching and learned and improved,” Galvin said. “The most important lesson they could learn was look people in the eyes, be honest and treat people with kindness. Our goal was to have 12 better players by the end of the season and we clearly accomplished that.”
