Tag Archives: basketball

Basketball program builds up Summit Shasta school spirit

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By Jenny Hu, Brian Bodestyne and Darren Macario

Staff Writers

Sports are an important part of the high school experience. The basketball program is particularly influential in the Summit Shasta school community. How do student basketball players contribute to the Shasta community?

According to Shasta freshman Allison Blair, sports help contribute to the Shasta community by helping bring different grade levels together. Blair explains that since “you can play on varsity as a freshman, it helps bring the community closer.”

As a prominent member of the girls basketball team, Blair inputs that “for the girls, they are actually developing it into a good program, which is great for Shasta because we’re not really known for our sports.”

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Shasta freshman Sam Zhang PHOTO CREDIT: Brian Bodestyne

Sam Zhang, a freshman player, states that the support that classmates bring to the games helps bring the community closer. “On average, [up to] 50 people come to our games at Shasta. […] Basketball is very important to this school because it helps build leadership, […] new connections, and show how teamwork is important in life.”

Shasta freshman Lucas Velasco, a varsity player, says that around 50 to 100 fans can show up to each basketball game. Velasco agrees that playing basketball has helped him become more close with friends.

Students have multiple chances to attend the weekly basketball games, with nearly 50 percent of students (out of 34 responses) in a recent sports survey sent out to Summit Shasta students saying that they attend the games at least once per month. In the same survey, around 75 percent of respondents stated that they are interested in or are already playing sports at this school.

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Many players state that sports have helped them establish bonds with friends and teammates. These players also cite sports as a source of school spirit. But what is the staff opinion of the Shasta basketball program?

Adelaide Giornelli, Shasta dean of instruction and culture, affirms that the boys and girls basketball teams at Shasta have a diverse set of grade levels that participate in the popular sport. “I think it’s really fun, and [I] look forward towards going to the games. The coaches do a really good job of making sure that the student athletes take themselves seriously “as both of those things.”

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Dean of Instruction and Culture Adelaide Giornelli PHOTO CREDIT: Jenny Hu

Ms. Giornelli later commented that she thinks that “there’s more we can do to make sure that the fans are building community [such as] taking time out of your day to support someone you know.”

In the aforementioned sports survey, many people seemed to feel that Summit Shasta generally does not seem to focus on sports or support the athletes. They say the school has not provided sufficient support to teams.

An anonymous surveyee mentioned that they noticed that teams do not have buses, which makes being an athlete hard: “Last year, soccer was so difficult because transportation was poor.”

Although sports might not be the main focus of Summit Shasta, the basketball program is still a very important part of the school culture. The athletes can overcome obstacles and can still have a good time.

See below for a video featuring the Shasta basketball players:

Freshman Jasen Pardilla loves basketball

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By Kent Williams

Staff Writer

Jasen Pardilla is a freshman at Summit Public School: Tahoma. He plays for the school basketball team, and he can be seen on the court regularly during breaks at school.

Pardilla’s most recent achievement on the court was leading a team of fellow freshmen to win the basketball portion of Tahoma’s Battle of the Classes on March 9. In the battle, each grade competed in food eating, relay racing and basketball, winning points based on ranking.

Pardilla said he loves the sport but that “some people doubt me, I just want to prove them wrong.”

See the full athlete profile below:

Summit Tahoma and Rainer participate in action-packed Senior Night

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By Will Butler

Tahoma Sports Editor

On March 23, the basketball team held Senior Night at Summit Tahoma. The event was pushed back due to complications, as it was originally scheduled to take place during the Summit Tahoma basketball season. An audience of teachers, students and parents attended the the event. There was a three-point contest between the students who chose to participate, plus two games, which were mixed with Summit and Rainier students.

Below is a slideshow of pictures taken at the event:

 

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Locals jump into the Redwood City basketball community

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By Jesus De La Rosa, Garrett Kelly and Max Livingston

Staff Writers

Basketball in the Redwood City community is a major part of daily life. We went around Redwood City and discussed with locals how basketball has helped the community and how basketball has changed their lives.

We interviewed many passionate people and asked them the question: How has basketball changed you as a person in your community?

The first person we interviewed was Elliot Reidy, a resident of Redwood City for 18 years. Reidy is currently in college and is enrolled at Skyline College. Reidy had a tough childhood, and basketball was a way to get out of ghetto. As Reidy got older, he realized he has a true talent for basketball. This year Reidy will be a redshirt freshman for the Skyline College basketball team.

Alexander Kasali is in high school and really likes playing on the team at Carlmont. He likes doing it because he can make friends, and it also keeps him in shape so that he is healthy. Kasali enjoys the game because it is a competitive game that also makes him connect with people.

Ryan Ferguson is in school at San Mateo High. Every weekend Ferguson goes to courts here in Redwood City to look for some pickup games. Places like Red Morton, the YMCA and the newly donated KD Court at Hoover Park are always filled with hoopers that just want to hoop.

Donovan Washington is a basketball coach who used to play in high school and college. He said that he really likes to coach and that it brings a new perspective to the game of basketball. Mr. Washington said he really understands what his coaches were saying when he was a kid.

Jovany Soria, a long-time resident of Redwood City, said basketball has helped him a lot as a person. He has created new friendships on the court that will last a lifetime. Also, Mr. Soria said it’s good to get some cardio and workout a bit through basketball.

Chuck Kremesec has been playing basketball for a long time now, and he really thinks it has helped him as a person. It has gotten him through tough times and has made him a better person. Kremesec likes going to the YMCA to play pickup on the weekends. He likes the community because he can meet new people and have fun.

In conclusion, we learned many new stories. While each story is unique, they all have the same overall message: basketball is a big part of the Redwood City community.

Here is the video:

Athlete likes competition

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By William Kramer

Staff Writer

Nicholas Quon is a freshman at Everest Public High School. He is an athlete who is really into basketball. He plays basketball every year and really enjoys playing. This year, he feels much better about his playing.

1. What made you want to start playing basketball?

His mom signed him up for basketball. “I was kind of nervous to play; and after I played my first game, I had a really good time, and it was really fun,” Quon said. “Now I really like sports.”

2. When and why did you start playing?

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Everest freshman Nicholas Quon

He started in third grade because his mom asked him if he wanted to play. “Every year I was excited to play a new sport, and it was a good experience,” Quon said. “After the first game, it was really fun.”

3. Who inspired you to start playing, and how did he/she do that?

“After my mom signed me up, the first basketball coach I had helped me experience a new sport.”                        

4. How did it feel playing for the first time? Why and/or how did it feel this way?

“It was fun the first time, and it was a good experience starting with a new sport,” Quon said. “In the beginning I was kind of nervous to play, but I was more fluent as the game went on. It was also more fun to play.”

5. What would be your ultimate achievement in this sport?

“To be the best player I can and keep playing in high school,” Quon said. “To be a good player on the high school team.”

6. What is interesting about this sport?

“Competition and playing and experiencing how good other players are,” Quon answered. “No matter how good you are, there is always a chance to get better. I think it’s good to get better.”

7. Does anyone else in your family play or have played any of the sports you do? Do you play with your family?

He said his dad still plays, as well as his cousin, uncles and brothers. “I sometimes play with my family and sometimes go out into my back yard to play together,” Quon said. “It’s always fun to play against each other and make jokes about each other.”

8. What’s your favorite thing about this sport and why?

“Always having an opportunity to improve and it’s fun to play,” Quon said. “I think it’s fun to play because you get to compete against other people, and it’s especially fun to have a good game and have your teammates cheer you on.”

9. Have you ever considered quitting a sport? Why or why not?

“I quit baseball because it was boring and you had to wait for a long time,” Quon said. “I played baseball and basketball for five years and decided I wanted to play basketball, but sometimes I like to watch baseball.”

10. Do you think you could become famous for this sport and why?

“No, because there are lots of other players that are better and not a well known player like others. I think I’m a good player and will play in high school and hopefully college, but not good enough to become famous for it,” Quon said. “But there is still an opportunity to get better.”

11. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

“I think I’m pretty good at shooting and dribbling, but not the greatest at posting up,” Quon said. “If I practice my weaknesses enough, I think I’ll get better at it.”

12. What advice do you have for other players?

“Make sure to enjoy what you’re doing or what you’re playing, and there is always room to improve no matter how good or bad you are,” Quon said. “Have fun playing the sport.”

Young student athlete talks about his journey with basketball

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By Jasmeet Kaur

Staff Writer

Jordan Fierro is a junior at Summit Public School: Tahoma. He loves to play basketball in his free time, and he shared his passion for the sport in an interview.

1. What sport do you play? 

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Tahoma junior Jordan Fierro

“I love to play basketball.”

2. How long have you been playing basketball? Who got you into it? Who encouraged you along the way?

“I’ve been playing since I was able to walk,” Fierro said. “My parents got me into it because they would always watch basketball with me on the TV. I started playing with my dad, and he always kept me going.”

3. How did you get into basketball?

“I got into basketball because I just liked watching NBA players play and playing with my friends. I grew up watching Allen Iverson, and I always loved how good he was at dribbling. I would practice dribbling with my dad, and I would play with my friends on our block.”

4. How has that sport helped you grow as a person?

“As a person, it helped me grow a lot because, like you know, I worked with the coaches, and they’re teaching me things, things I didn’t learn myself or didn’t know myself already. It made me learn how to work with a team, instead of doing things individually.”

5. Have you had any setbacks as a player?

“I think football was a setback for me,” Fierro said, “because I liked playing football more than basketball, and then over the years I started to like basketball more, so I feel like I lost a few years of practice I could’ve had, but it wasn’t really a setback. Basketball just made me stop or not like football anymore, or as much.”

6. How has that sport influenced how you interact with people?

“It makes it easier to interact with new people, you know? Because, like, you’re interacting with new players all the time. You see new players every game, so yea it’s your competition sometimes, so it’s like, ‘Yo, I don’t like you, you’re the competition,’ but at the same time it’s really not like that. It’s a friendly competition, so it helps with the outside world because you can go talk to somebody and not be shy.”

7. Do you think that playing on the court teaches you some morals that you cannot teach in a classroom? Why?

“I think yes, because teamwork makes the dream work, so, without the team, the dream won’t work. Teamwork plays a big factor in basketball. Your teachers can’t teach you how to work with people. In basketball, you kinda get brought together, winning games and losing games.”

8. How can you apply those morals in your life?

“I think teamwork helps me in life because it helps me talk to people I don’t know more easily,” Fierro said. “I can also adapt to working with people I don’t know in a classroom when the teacher puts us in groups to work. I think when I’m older and have a job this is going to help me because I need to able to work with people for almost any job.”

9. How do you adapt to new players on your team?

“I get along with almost everybody. I’m not a hard person to get along with because I know that in basketball to win, you have to work together. You don’t have to be friends with everyone. You just have to be able to work with them.”

10. Do you recommend this sport to others? Why?

“I recommend basketball to any player or anybody because basketball brings players together. Well, any sport brings players together because of teamwork. All sports, just play sports. It’s a good thing.”

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