Alumni edge by Dons in close showdown

In preparation for the new season, the boys and girls varsity basketball teams played teams of Aragon alumni in the second annual Aragon alumni basketball game on Nov. 27. Though the current Dons played competitively, in both instances the alumni won by one-point with girls’ alumni ending at 51-50 and boys’ alumni culminating with a score of 59-58.

In spite of the competitive level present in the game, varsity coach Arjuna Manning-Laisne says, “The most important thing of this game is to apply the things we’ve been practicing the last weeks. [It’s] a chance to play against some fresh bodies.” He stressed that victory was not the main goal, stating, “[It] really depends on the alumni. It’s not a real team; it’s more like a pickup game.”

Through e-mail and Facebook, alumni were asked if they could participate in the game. Unlike the varsity teams, no prior practices were held for the alumni.

Like all other competitive games, anxiety was present to a certain extent. Senior Byron Ng says, “[I’m feeling a lot of anxiety because it is the first time playing against new people. It’ll wake us up for the season and snap us into the right mindset.”

Both girls’ and boys’ varsity teams began their games with immediate possession of the ball. Though the girls’ game was off to a slow start, senior Nichole Kwee scored the first basket for Aragon with a left-handed lay-up. Afterwards, the current lady Dons utilized more careful spacing throughout the first quarter than their alumni counterparts.

While most attempted shots for the alumni girls occurred within the key, the current girls’ varsity team’s spacing allowed for more dynamic plays, including a three-pointer and explosive lay-up by junior Justine Kubo. The girls’ varsity finished the first quarter in the lead at 11-4.

Like the girls’ game, the first half of the boys’ alumni game faced a stagnant start, going the first four minutes without a single point scored. The boys’ alumni proved to be a very competitive team, albeit with no prior practices, ending the first half with a lead of 26-16. This in part was due to the obvious height and size advantages of some alumni, most notably through alumni Don Washington’s slam dunk that brought the alumni up by 14.

Nonetheless, the varsity boys brought some strong offensive plays in the first half of the game, and narrowed the score. Sophomore Trevor Lahoz was instrumental, using quick drives and steals down the court.

Yet, the boys’ alumni team was quick to broaden the gap between the two teams’ scores. Nearing the end of the first half, alumni Isaiah Harris sunk two consecutive three-pointers ensuring a ten point lead for the alumni team.

The third quarter for the girls’ game and second half for the boys’ game proved to be of a much higher intensity than the beginning of the game, with points rising steeply for both sides and more emphasis on the offense.

Through their surprising comeback in the third quarter, the alumni girls had nearly tripled their score, ending closer to the varsity girls’ team at 32-40.

Throughout the last quarter, the alumni girls switched to a more defense centered strategy, while simultaneously racking up points. With little more than a minute left, Dere’s foul shot brought the alumni team just one point below the varsity girls at 43-44. Junior Felicia Dito countered with two foul shots that took the varsity team ahead, 46-43. The game was nonetheless driven into overtime when Dere scored a 3-pointer in the last minute. The game ended with a score of 51-50, a victory for the alumni.

The final half of the boys’ game was equally as intense. Though the varsity boys’ utilized their space more effectively in this half, the alumni team brought up their score by repeating its feats in the first half, another dunk by Washington, three-pointer by Harris, and multiple lay-ups by alumni Kenya Iwamoto. Yet, the varsity team made great efforts to stay level with the alumni – Ng scored four consecutive three-pointers. The game ended at 59-58, with the alumni emerging victorious.

Above all, competitors from both sides left the game tired but satisfied. Former Aragon player and current girl’s frosh-soph coach Yinka Omolayole says, “It’s always a good feeling to come back and know everyone.”