Girls basketball players walked off the court after winning their first CCS game of the season and began singing. Sophomore Shivalika Chavan joined in as well as a cake made its way to the middle of the team huddle and she realized that the singing was for her.
“I finally remembered that it was my birthday,” Chavan said with frosting dotted under her eyes like football eye black. Players ate the cake and put away chairs and loose balls while mentally preparing for the second round CCS game they would play two days later.
After a dominant game against Alisal High School on Feb. 24, the Matadors earned a clear victory and a spot in the next round of CCS.
Senior Christina Jennings started off the game strong and put the Matadors ahead 4-2 early in the first quarter. Jennings and freshman Joyce Chen’s quick and consistent passing kept the ball away from the Trojans, and by the end of the first quarter, the Matadors led 11-6. The lead only widened from there.
Now that the Matadors are out of their own league of opponents, they haven’t played the other teams before — some players could barely pronounce the name of the school. Chen and senior Hannah Pollek both referenced “stalking” their opponent and their potential opponents on MaxPreps before the game to gain some insight on key shooters. The stalking and coach Sara Borelli’s advice gave the Matadors some information on the faraway team.
“I got some intel from other coaches,” Borelli said. “We knew who to focus on.”
In the next quarter, the Matadors scored an additional 14 points. AHS scored two. The Trojans tried for a buzzer beater as the first half ended, but they were unable to make the shot and the Matadors ended the half 25-8. As boys basketball coach Clay Stiver read a Subway advertisement, players filed out of the gym and despite the wide lead, Borelli advised the players to remain alert.
“Coach was telling us not to get cocky,” Chavan said.
“If anything, that was the time to step up,” Chen said. “At half time, that’s usually when the other team steps up and you’ve got to match that.”
MVHS cited games in which they’ve come back and games in which the other team has come back. In high-scoring games like basketball, everything can change in the last few minutes, and the Matadors were prepared.
Apparently, the halftime discussion worked for AHS as they returned to the court, scoring more in the third quarter than in the entire first half. However, the Matadors’ strong ball movement and reliable shooting from Jennings, Chen and Pollek only allowed the Trojans to trim the lead to sixteen points by the end of the quarter.
With two minutes left in the game, Jennings and junior Julie Chen each shot a quick two points and the Matadors were up 39-24. Chavan’s free throw tacked on one point. The Trojans trailed 16 points and six seconds remained in the game. Time was about to run out, but instead it stopped. Parents gathered their things from the bleachers, ready to leave as the Trojans were fouled with 0.1 seconds remaining in the game. The extra point brought the score to 40-27, but it could not bring AHS back into CCS.
The Matadors’ victory propelled them into the second round of CCS. They will work on zone defense and defense in general in the next few days, but the Matadors acknowledge that they’ve come a long way and have accomplished their original goal of figuring out a team dynamic.
“We’re improved on being more cohesive,” Borelli said. “[We’re] on the same page.”
The Matadors play Carlmont High School away on Feb. 26. Check our twitter for the score.
