After winning their first two games on Dec. 6-7, the varsity boys’ basketball team was warming up for the championship game of the Pinewood Invitational Tournament in Los Altos Hills when suddenly the lights flickered and the gym went black. At first the darkness was unsettling but to their dismay, the final game could not be played.
The Menlo-Atherton coach then reasoned with head coach Christopher Schultz to stay the night and continue the game at 9 am on Dec. 8. The next morning after the boys arrived at the gym, the other team was nowhere in sight. Coach was then informed that the Menlo-Atherton team would not arrive because of the rule that stated no games were allowed to take place on Sundays. Due to this rule, the boys went home the co-champions after winning their first two games.
Schultz gets his teams involved in tournaments outside of the Valley every year for three basic reasons: they are always more fun, they build unity for the team, and also they give them a chance to play different types of schools opposed to the same schools over and over.
“We’ve been doing this for four years now,” Schultz said. “Each year provides our team an opportunity to improve and prepare for the league season.”
This season is a rebuilding year after losing five seniors last year. Schultz believes that last years team had more talent, but this year’s team has a lot of drive, and if they continue to use that they will be unstoppable.
The boys are coming out and confirming that they have something to prove. Jon Steele, ’03 has made it his duty to step up to the leadership role on the team, and be an example on and off the court.
“The way we played our first tournament really surprised me,” Steele said. “I believe that our expectations for the season have now gone up. We always want to play hard and give our all, and through that success will come.”
A newcomer to the FC team is Maury Turner, ’04, who came to the campus from Immanuel. Some of his expectations for the year are to win league and make it to the playoffs. Turner’s personal goal is to constantly improve his game, and really hopes to face off with Immanuel in the playoffs.
“The transition from Immanuel ball to FC is that at Immanuel it is not any fun,” Maury Turner, 04 said. “All you do is kick the ball to Jacob Wild (?03) and get out of his way. Here there is more of a balanced offense and we all get a chance to get shots.”
A rookie to the varsity team is Josh Wright, ’05, who moved up to varsity this year from JV. He expects the team to do very well, and that they can take league and put up a fight in the playoffs.
“The transition has not been easy,” Wright said. “The varsity level is much faster, tougher, and way more physical. I have adjusted pretty well, but by the league I will be in the swing of things.”
Currently the team is playing in the San Diego Small Schools Invitational Tournament from Dec. 11-14. FC opened with a 46-44 win over San Deiguito. Steele led the team with 24 points and 6 rebounds. The team’s overall record is 4-0 and play Francis Parker on Dec. 12.
