Girls basketball seniors slaughter Segundo
On Thursday Feb. 8, Samo seniors had their final game and win after beating El Segundo. With moms crying and students screaming, all of Samo yearned for the win. Throughout the game, both teams played tough, and Samo’s seniors went out with a bang. Samo won, 37-32.The first quarter began with fierce competition. Since it was ‘Senior Night,’ Coach Douglas Kim had an all-senior set of starters, each hungrier than the last to win. Due to El Segundo’s fast-paced playing, the first quarter went by quickly; ending with a score of 7-8 with El Segundo in the lead by one.However, this lead was quickly corrected to favor Samo. Thanks to a two-pointer shot by Iternite Reed (’20), Samo was put into the lead within the first thirty seconds of the second quarter.34 seconds into the second quarter, Samo surged ahead. The score was 17-13 and Segundo. The girl’s lead remained solid through halftime and the second quarter ended. The third went off with a bang. Both teams emerged from break anew; fiercer and at full-force. Samo took advantage of all free throw/three-pointer opportunities and went into the fourth leading by far, 30-20.With a ten point deficit between them and their competitors, Samo was determined to seal the deal in the end. Shot after shot, Segundo succumbed to Samo. The Samo girls were ready to do whatever necessary to win. As the game progressed, more fans filtered in. By the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, the North Gym was at capacity. Students and family alike screaming in unison for a win.Captains Carmen Doñate (’18) and Lily Auerbach (’19) played with rigor-speeding across the court and dynamically passing. It was their, and their fifteen other teammates’ ferocity that brought the game home. In the last six seconds of the game, a time-out was called. Segundo had recently scored two points with a lucky shot. However, it wasn’t enough to sike out Samo who ended with solid 37-32 win.Although it ended with a win, this game was bittersweet; it marked the end of league and an era. However, the senior girls will leave Samohi having made their mark, this season and on the program. “I’m really proud of everything they’ve become; it’s more important than just a basketball game. They’re really strong young women who don’t need anyone to define who they are. They stand on their own two feet and I think that’s really more important than the game itself. Wins and losses take care of themselves. I’m really going to miss them. They’re an important part of who I am, they’ve made me a better person-I love those kids,” Coach Kim said.