DAILY NEWS: Shalhevet girls basketball proud to be first Jewish school to win CIF State crown

To the Entire Shalhevet Community,

 

Basketball is SO much more than winning and losing, scoring and defense, and the final score. The process of setting team goals and then working harder than your mind and body thinks is possible while overcoming unforeseen obstacles along the way is a direct parallel to life. Every season at Shalhevet begins the same way, in a classroom, setting goals for our team. This season we set goals that were almost unrealistic. Statistically, we had about a .15% chance of attaining our ultimate goal of winning a state title. 

 

The journey that started in early September included a Glouberman Championship, a Milken Tournament Championship, and culminated in a State Championship. But as with every journey, there were several bumps along the way. The team received disciplinary consequences, lost in the CIF semifinals in a heart-breaking game, and dealt with dissension among teammates and friends. Like every championship team, all of the lessons learned along the way ultimately made us closer and stronger.  

 

On February 26 during an afternoon practice the brackets were released for the State Playoffs. We all crowded around a computer and saw that we were granted the number one seed for the Southern California region. On the Northern California side the number one seed belonged to San Domenico. Immediately, everyone started thinking about a rematch. At that moment our rally cry was born “Get back to Sac”. 

 

On March 7 our girls faced our rival, Campbell Hall in the Southern California Regional Final. The game fell on Purim, not ideal for our community. But instead of fighting it or making it an obstacle, our school and community embraced it. Students and parents showed up in costumes and turned our gym (once again) in to the biggest home court advantage in all of high school basketball. Our athletes fed off of the energetic crowd and were once again crowned as the champions of Southern California. That night will forever be remembered by all who attended. 

 

We were now one game away from achieving our goal. The team and travel party departed on March 9 at 6:30am for Sacramento, we got back to Sac. 

 

A long bus ride, team practice at a dirty and unaccommodating YMCA, bus breakdown, ubers in the rain provided a few more bumps on our journey. One last film and game plan session prior to bed rounded out our last full day of preparation. 

 

The time had finally come, 366 days after a crushing defeat to this same opponent. Like last year, San Domenico High School showed up to the Golden One Center with eight rooter buses full of students and fans. Shalhevet faithful traveled to support our team but we were outnumbered by about 12-1. In typical Shalhevet fashion, our crowd was not phased and rose to the challenge and made just as much noise. At one point I even heard a “we can’t hear you” chant from the Firehawks which brought a smile to my face. 

 

The game itself was poetic and fitting to begin. Yalee Schwartz, who left last year’s championship game in the first quarter with an injury, scored the first five points. Arielle Grossman then hit three consecutive three point shots and another jump shot and the Firehawks built a commanding lead. San Domenico fought back, as champion teams do. The game was tight the entire way although the Firehawks never trailed. Major contributions from Davina Benelyahu, Kira Kupferman, and Audrey Soleymani helped the Firehawks secure the win. Senior captain Talia Tibi played through an ankle injury that she suffered in the first quarter, a microcosm of what she has overcome the last two years. 

 

Anyone in attendance or watching would probably agree that the last two minutes of the game felt like it took an hour! With five seconds left Davina secured the ball and was fouled. At that point I was totally overcome with emotion, WE DID IT! 

 

The hugs and celebrations were a fitting culmination of a year of working towards something that was virtually impossible to achieve. After the game, in a room filled with media, the girls spoke eloquently about their determination and what it meant to represent their Jewish community. 

 

On behalf of the girls basketball team I want to thank all of the fans, parents, board members and administrators who helped make this journey possible. These lifelong memories would not be possible without all of you who support us physically, financially, emotionally, and every other way possible. 

 

 

So much love for you all,