Boys basketball has a slam dunk season
Second semester is full of endings. Between finishing the ACT/SAT process, to a musician's last ensemble tour, to simply a seniors last lap of high school, second semester is a time to reflect. After an intense season for Samo’s boys varsity basketball team, the boys are reflecting on their performance this season, and preparing for next year’s. The boys had an exceptional run this year. They placed third in the Ocean league and won seven of the 10 league games they played. Their performance was remarkable considering that over a third of the team were new to varsity as of this year. Varsity had five sophomores on it this year and all of them contributed greatly to the team’s wins. Every player brought a unique element of fire and tenacity to the team. Head Coach James Hecht raved about the success of the team and its younger players. “I was really proud of the way that they supported one another, shared the ball and played for each other,” Hecht said. The boys kicked off their season in November with a significant win against Venice. They beat Venice 64-38 and continued to dominate throughout winter break. They played thirteen other games before the season had started and won seven of them. Their first in-season home game was on Jan. 10. They played, or rather crushed, Lawndale, winning 71-47. Their reign continued throughout the remainder of the season. The winter season for basketball is from January to February. During these months, the boys won eight games. They were also able to defeat the team’s main rival, Beverly. The boys won 68-63, at the Samo home game after narrowly losing a week earlier on Beverly turf. “I’m proud of the guys’ effort. I thought they played hard from start to finish,” Hecht said. Geoffrey Chaucer once said, “All good things must come to an end.” That quote rings true of the winter sports season. For many players, it’s about more than just a game. It’s been their second family for four years. Through every problem and obstacle, teammates are there for each other. So while they had a banner season, the end is bittersweet. However, as the seniors leave Samo, they also leave their legacy. The team has accomplished so much and have made this season a slam dunk.