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fter receiving a first-round bye, the boys basketball team lost their second-round CCS game to Independence High School (IHS) on Friday, Feb. 24.

Prior to Friday’s game, junior guard Eric Sathy said he hoped to get “two or three games out of [CCS].”

Though the game had a slow start, HHS played good defense. However, they were tied with IHS at the end of the first quarter.

“During the second [quarter] we played okay… but we didn’t get enough second chance points at the rim, ” senior forward Dante Johnson said.

Despite being the bigger team, HHS still lacked second chance shots. At the end of the second quarter, IHS had gone up by two.

Halftime allowed HHS to gain back its momentum and start the third quarter strong. Both junior guard Eric Sonobe and Johnson sunk three’s during the third quarter which allowed them to keep the energy of the game on their side.

The fourth quarter was intense and both teams were making good shots. Within one minute left, IHS called a timeout in attempt at stopping the power that HHS had. At around the last five seconds of the game, IHS went for a layup and missed, but another IHS player on the backside of the rim tipped the ball into the hoop.

Despite the loss, Johnson stays positive.

“Basketball is similar to life in the way that one can either step forward into growth or step back into comfort,” Johnson said.

Breast cancer awareness is not only recognized in October. HHS Cancer Society organized Pink Night in conjunction with the JV and Varsity basketball teams in the big gym on Jan. 27 to support breast cancer awareness.

Players of all teams wore pink shirts saying “United we fight” to show their support for the cause.

Players from other sports said they supported the basketball teams and the unified cause.

“[I came to support my classmates because] they supported me when [they] were watching football, not just me but me team so I gotta come to support,” junior Andrew Odour said.

JV boys basketball captain sophomore Sunny Arattukulam’s grandmother died because of breast cancer, which he said made this event important to him. Arattukulam said he was excited to have this night and have the whole school support them and breast cancer awareness.

“It’s good that everyone comes together to support it, because it encourages people to keep fighting as hard as they can,” Arattukulam said.

Students were very adamant teams should take these opportunities and support the causes as best as they can.

“Breast cancer awareness doesn’t get that much attention, only in October, but we give it in another month too so that’s why [Pink Night] got so much attention.” Odour said.

Toward the end of the event the stands were filled with students from HHS and Saratoga High School, teachers and parents. This event had the best turnout of the whole season at home for all four basketball teams sophomore cheerleader Michelle Bekku said.

Players were glad to see people come to see them and support the night.

“It’s honestly amazing just knowing that people will always have your back, and you just know that you will never be alone. And you’re always going to have some type of support wherever you go, is just a great feeling,” Arattukulam said.

Pink Night was capped off by boys varsity basketball making a second half comeback.

Boys varsity is currently 11-10, boys JV is 18-3, girls varsity is currently 9-12 and girls JV is 14-5.

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he boys varsity basketball team collected their fourth league win Friday, Jan. 20 against FHS. Senior Tyler Liston, center and power forward, said prior to big games coach Shawn Hook does not have the boys practice for a specific team, but more for a specific play the other team might run.

Prior to Friday, junior guard Eric Sathy said, “If we play our game, we should be able to win.” Luckily, the team did just that.

The first quarter of the game started off quite slow with the first score being a three pointer by FHS at 6:25. After a few missed free throws from FHS and a blocked lay up by junior Joshua Anderson, the score remained 3-0 at 3:38. Junior Brendan Kane drove to the basket and completed a layup, HHS’ first score of the game, making it 3-2. After a couple more two pointers by FHS, HHS followed 7-2 with 1:30 left in the quarter. HHS’ first three pointer of the game came from junior Eric Sonobe, making the score 7-5. Following more layups and free throws from both teams, FHS lead 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter started off with a quick foul against HHS which allowed FHS another free point from a free throw. Junior Justin Yi blocked a shot but fouled the shooter, allowing for more free throws to make the lead 12-7. Succeeding three missed shots by HHS, junior Eric Sathy managed to make a tough two pointer while falling to the ground, making the game 13-9. Followed by a turnover by FHS, Kane made a three pointer with 4:45 left in the quarter. Another turnover by FHS allowed HHS’ 42, Jacob Larry, to complete a layup, giving HHS the lead, 14-13. After some more free throws and a three pointer from HHS’ number 2, Eric Sonobe, HHS ended the quarter leading 23-18.

During the third quarter of the game, HHS’ offense really heated up and allowed for a large lead. More two pointers and free throws gave HHS a ten point lead with 5:10 left in the quarter. Following some blocked shots by HHS, Sathy sunk a three pointer which gave Homestead a 13 point lead with the score 33-20. After some free throws and turnovers, it seemed that FHS was managing to come back, yet more two pointers by Larry and Yi pushed the score back up to 39-27 with 37 seconds left in the quarter. A five second violation by FHS and weak ball handling by HHS ended the quarter at 39-27.

The fourth quarter started off with some quick shots by both sides, making the score 43-30. Following free throws by both teams, Kane made another three pointer and made the score 48-33. After back and forth shots, two HHS turnovers allowed FHS to gain some more points, however the score remained in HHS’ favor at 52-39 with 2:00 left. A couple last two pointers by Larry and Sonobe ended the game with a score of 58-39. The next game against FHS will be a home game on Feb. 10.

As far as postseason goes, the team has already earned themselves a spot in CCS, and Sathy hopes to get “at least two or three games out of it.”

The girls soccer team lost many upperclassmen last year due to graduating seniors and time committed juniors leaving spots open to fill. According to Maxpreps some of the juniors lost include Isabella Rosado, Margo Thornton, Laura Salvaggio, and Kristina Claras. One of the new four freshman players fulfilling the new task of the younger team is Karinna Gupta.

“We play other teams and a lot of them are mostly upperclassmen so they’re bigger and stronger and a lot are more experienced.” Gupta said.

The team is currently sitting at 4-0 still in preseason and looking to succeed in their upcoming league games.

“It’s been challenging this year playing against such high competition,” Gupta said.

Gupta, like many young players on the team, has felt pressure to compete at a higher level.

“I feel like since you’re a freshman on varsity they expect you to be really good because typically freshman don’t make varsity,” Gupta said.“So there’s that pressure of being as good as the older girls”.

The team has a difficult task and so far seems to be doing well.

“We are young and have a lot of work to do but we are motivated and ready to succeed against bigger, stronger, and more experienced teams.” Gupta said.

The team looks to feed off Gupta’s attitude.

“My goals this season are to continue to play well and to avoid injury,” Gupta said.

Facing extreme adversity the girls soccer team is holding their own and a lot of the credit goes to the newer players including Gupta.