Girls basketball: Team loses 41-37 to rival Cupertino HS

Story by Karen Ma

The bleachers at Cupertino HS filled with classmates, parents and friends from other schools as the teams formed huddles, preparing themselves for the intense match that they knew was ahead. After losing by eight points during the preseason, the Matadors took on the CHS Pioneers once again at 6:15 p.m. on Jan. 22 in CHS’ main gym. They led slightly yet constantly throughout the game, only to lose 41-37 in the finishing two minutes.

With swift, active passes and shots from both sides, MVHS was up 12-9 at the end of the first quarter. Senior Natasha Shetty explains that going into the game, the Matadors were well-prepared and knew what to expect from the tough team. The players made sure they were able to block and get the ball to rebound.

“They’re a three-point shooting team, and we knew that going into it, so we worked our butts off on defense to make sure they didn’t get the ball,” Shetty said.

A stream of points from passing aggressively, maintaining ball possession and catching open spots marked the beginning of the second quarter for CHS. MVHS, with slow advances and inefficient passing, was only able to score two points. However, before the opponents could acquire a larger lead, the Matadors channeled their energy to drive the ball and sink four successful free throws, leveling the score to 18-18.

In the remaining time of the second quarter, the ball went back and forth the full length of the court as both teams showcased solid defense and constant pressure toward the other. The quarter ended with CHS in the lead, 20-19.

“Initially, in the first quarter, they really were paying attention to the ball,” said Geeya Chavan, mother of junior Shivalika Chavan. “However, there were a few turnovers which made the ball go the other way, and then [the team] missed some of the shots.”

CHS immediately scored two with a layup in the third quarter, but the Pioneers’ lead was soon overturned as the Matadors made quick passes and layups and prevented any of CHS’ rebounds, pulling themselves to a slim lead of 23-22. The Matadors kept ball possession at all costs, even when pushed down. Nonetheless, the opponents recouped and mostly kept the ball out of the Matadors’ hands, settling the score to a 25-25 tie.

Shetty believes that MVHS’ fouls and turnovers played a major role in MVHS’ inability to score more points in the third quarter. They also gave CHS too many free throw opportunities, while not making enough free throws for themselves.

“It was not that [the team was] playing on the other side of the court all the time,” Chavan said. “They were bringing the ball in properly, but were not able to finish it.”

The teams proceeded neck and neck at the start of the final quarter, until MVHS pulled ahead 34-29 due to increased team communication and energy. Players on the court were accelerated and supporters in the bleachers were heated. During each free throw by the opposing team, the supporting side of the gym hollered in an attempt to distract the shooter.

The Matadors’ five-point lead did not last long, as CHS exhibited their advantage in free throws and three-pointers, yielding the score to a tie of 34-34. MVHS pulled ahead with two successful free throws, and soon the teams were neck and neck once again. MVHS made a few more free throws, making the score 37-36 in the Matadors’ favor — this was the last lead the team would have.

“We played our hearts out, we were on our game in the beginning, and then it was just the last minute that we just, we weren’t playing at our game,” team captain senior Julie Chen said. “We gave up a five-point lead.”

From there, the Pioneers weakened the Matadors’ defense and captured the ball whenever possible to score, rendering the Matadors unable to make any baskets. Within the last 20 seconds, the Pioneers sunk one final shot and the game ended with a score of 41-37.

Chen explained that the team needs to improve their ability to maintain a strong mentality throughout the game, not just when they are winning.

“At the end, we weren’t lax but we weren’t at the same intensity, and we should have stayed strong through that,” Chen said.

Though they lost, Shetty thinks that analyzing CHS’ game prior helped the team immensely in knowing what to be aware of.

“We played really good defense,” Shetty said. “I think we really broke down their defense, and we were able to confuse them and frazzle them which is something that has been really hard to do; they’re known to be a good team… We did it, it was just that last two minutes that killed us.”

Boys basketball: Team falls to Cupertino HS in the final seconds

Story by Aditya Pimplaskar

It was the night before the SAT, and one would expect for high school students to be at home, asleep, preparing for the big test. However on Jan. 22, the stands of the CHS gym were packed with CHS students and a small section designated to the Matador fans. It was time for the long-awaited rivalry game between the undefeated CHS Pioneers and the 3-1 Matadors, who were coming off of their loss to Santa Clara HS

The Matadors opened the game strong, with a high intensity offense that centered around getting to the rim. They had lacked this newfound intensity in their game against SCHS.

“The energy was much better [than the SCHS game],” head coach Clay Stiver said. “I think it’s just [because it is] a rivalry game and they want to get up for it. But I think they know, [CHS is] also in first place and they’re undefeated, so that’s extra incentive.”

Seniors Mark Geha and Andrew Ding got to the rim for frequent baskets and the Matadors pulled ahead. However, following some big shots by CHS players in catch-and-shoot situations, the margin was cut to one point going into the second quarter.

In the second, the Pioneers found their rhythm but the Matadors still pulled ahead. Geha and Ding remained dominant, and the Matadors were successfully able to shut down CHS’ big man senior Ajaypal Singh with their modified zone defense. The game remained close throughout the half, with the Matadors up 23-20 leading into the halftime break.

“In the first half we were making a lot of our shots,” sophomore Ryan Lee said. “It gave us a lot of momentum.”However, this momentum shifted in the third quarter as the Pioneers began to knock down shot after shot

“At the beginning of the half, [CHS] came out and hit two threes, just because we didn’t rotate over like we were supposed to,” Stiver said. “That’s an easy six points for them, and if we just moved a couple of feet over, we would have stopped that play.”

The Matadors stayed tight with solid three point shooting from senior Vasu Gupta, but as MVHS focused their defense on Singh, CHS found open shots on the perimeter to capitalize on. The Pioneers hit their stride, and although they were still down two points, momentum and the crowd were on their side going into the final quarter.

“In the second half, they started hitting their shots,” Lee said. “And their crowd got into it so the momentum shifted their way.”

The fourth quarter was one of intense basketball and even more intense involvement from the crowd. Louder yelling combined with chants to taunt the players echoed throughout the CHS gym.  Both teams fought tooth and nail, responding to each others shots with their own. With the time winding down, CHS guard junior Koshi Huynh knocked down a big jumper to give the Pioneers a two-point lead in the final seconds of the game. The Matadors, crunched for time, called a timeout to draw up a play.

The CHS crowd was going wild, trying to get into the minds of MVHS players by counting down the shot clock early. The Matadors ran a play that left Geha wide open but the Pioneers were able to contain the ball. Out of desperation, MVHS called a timeout yet again.

With about nine seconds left in the game, the ball was inbounded and with three seconds on the clock, the ball was swung to Lee at the left corner. But with the crowd right behind him counting down the game clock several seconds early, Lee fell for their trap and put up a desperate three from the corner, right as he caught the ball. The shot was no good.

“We just need to ignore them,” Lee said about the CHS crowd. “We have to play our game.”

CHS snagged the rebound at the end and secured the victory by a slim margin of two points, 46-48.

“If we just come out with the same gusto, we’ll be good,” Stiver said. “We’re 3-2, there’s no reason why we still can’t finish first in league. We said that we wanted to finish in top 3, and that’s still very attainable for us.”

The Matadors defeated the Homestead HS Mustangs 53-42 on Jan. 27.

The boys team will be playing at Mountain View HS on Feb. 3. There will be a quad game against Lynbrook HS on Feb. 5.