Both the boys and girls varsity basketball teams beat Monta Vista High School yesterday, February 15. The boys team won 53-42, marking its first undefeated season in the league in 40 years. The girls also had an excellent showing, burning Monta Vista in a 51-42 victory. On a night full of emotion, both the boys and girls teams came out with enthusiasm and passion that simply weren’t matched by the visitors.
Prior to both games, students, parents, and fans alike celebrated the seniors on the basketball teams and the dance team. The teams started their senior players in their last game, acknowledging their contributions to the program.
In the boys’ 53-42 victory, the first half was closer than the team wanted, with the Eagles up 27-24 at halftime. The Eagles’ play in the second half demonstrated their intensity and desire to win. The varsity boys pulled away in the third quarter and sealed the win behind several three-pointers by junior Joey Malgesini, the leading scorer.
The victory clinched an undefeated season for the boys team, setting the bar high for the coming years to match. It is a goal that the Eagles will undoubtedly go for; if the season has illustrated anything, it is that even the highest expectations can be met.
“Completing this perfect league season is a huge accomplishment for us,” Co-captain senior Kieran Stolorz said. “We have serious aspirations of winning multiple games [in CCS].”
The Lady Eagles’ game was incredibly close throughout the first three quarters, and they outscored Monta Vista by 9 points in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The team was down 21-19 at the half, but managed to rally behind senior Ideen Seyed in the second half to seize the games’ momentum and take control. Ideen was the team’s leading scorer, draining 20 points on the night. The win put the team at an 11-1 in-league record this season, tying it for first place in the league.
The boys and girls teams have yet to be seeded in CCS, where they hope to repeat their success on the court.
“We hope to get an even better turnout from the Blue Crew during CCS next week,” junior Steven Garverick said.
