With the season coming to an end, the boys’ varsity basketball team has been preparing for aggressive competition in their opening playoff game against San Rafael.
Earlier in the season, the team had been ahead on a winning streak, dominating teams such as San Rafael, Tam, and Drake. But recently the boys have managed to fall short to teams like Marin Catholic and Branson in the past couple games as the end of the season approaches.
“We’re still in the process of figuring out how we can play best together and what formula works so I think that this last stretch is super important,” senior Nick Jones said.
Yet, despite the fact that the team has been pushed from the top to fourth in this year’s MCAL standings, the players are still trying to fight their way back to the top.
“It’s hard to work 100% all the time, but we’re working toward it and doing the best we can,” junior Elliot Dean said.
Especially going into the playoffs, dedication to both the team and the win have been the main emphasis among the players.
“Just as far as focus goes on trying to win MCALs and beyond, it’s a lot more intense and everyone is more a lot dedicated to the team and we’re a lot closer,” senior Alex Bongiorno said.
According to captain Nick Tarantino has also been determined to maintain team chemistry by staying close friends both inside and outside of basketball.
“During the season, we know each other a lot better and we’re a lot closer to each other and we hang out with each other outside of basketball,” Tarantino said. “We have each other’s backs so we’re a lot more comfortable with each other.”
When asked to describe their team, players used the words “family, “selflessness”, and “committed” referring to the connection between this year’s players as the team has built more trust this year than in years past.
“Our team this year, were like one unit completely and were just, were a family, we really are a family,” Jones said, “it seems like this year, it’s more than just a game of basketball.”
The boys will play San Rafael this Tuesday, February 18 at Redwood. If varsity wins, the team will continue on to the next round of playoffs on Thursday, February 20.
