Page 36 - Priorities #70
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CCS playoffs. But according to Coach Buck and Mark Stogner, the entire team was dedicated from the start. “Each player was completely invested in the process,” emphasized Stogner.
Tatiana Reese ‘18 came to
Priory in the 7th grade, when
the basketball program was still
a JV team. Her love for Priory
and the mentorship by Coach
Buck helped her believe that
she could help build the girls
basketball program. “I knew
right away this was the place for
me. It was the place that felt most like home,” Reese said. As for her connection with Coach Buck, Reese explained, “I always thought of him like an important figure in my life. He developed me as an athlete, and more importantly as a student. I couldn’t be more thankful to have him in my life.”
In the 2016-17 season, the team was making great strides with a high-scoring historical CCS win, 69-48, over St. Francis Salesian. But their hopes of winning NorCal and advancing to the State Championship were crushed after losing to Eastside College Prep in the NorCal Championship game.
The NorCal Championship loss only seemed to fuel the team with a deeper desire to get to the State Championship this season. “I expected to go to the State Championship because we were so close last year and how much the girls hated losing last year,” expressed Coach Buck.
With that fire now lit, the team went into the season more determined than ever. As the tough preseason schedule rolled through, the Panthers were at first discouraged at trying to execute winning the game, but knew in the long run that those preseason games had helped to prepare them for playoffs.
The first playoff game began with the CCS playoffs, Priory started as the Division V number one seeded team, and blew through CCS with wins over KIPP San Jose Collegiate, 64-24, St. Francis Salesian, 68-55, and for the CCS Championship, a victory over Castilleja, 72-32.
Moving on to NorCal playoffs, there was suddenly a new unexpected change. A new seeding model called “competitive equity” was introduced and teams in all divisions were separated by strength and not enrollment.
Priory has traditionally played in Division V, but with the competitive equity model in effect, the team was still seeded number one, but was bumped up to Division IV. This
would mean possibly competing against much larger schools. This change didn’t seem to discourage Priory in NorCal playoffs though, as it charged through game-by- game with victories over Moreau Catholic, 62-38, St. Bernard’s, 58- 40, and San Joaquin Memorial, 55-35.
Now the team was in the same position as the previous season– the NorCal Championship game. A major benefit to being the number one seed is home court advantage. Priory was
able to host the NorCal Championship at home in front of a jam-packed gym. Behind the chants and support of Priory students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, the team battled and came out victorious in a nail-biting triumph over Bradshaw Christian 59-58. History was made once again with the first NorCal Championship. “It just felt good to win a championship with people I love and hold close to my heart and to have people I love dearly supporting me,” said Reese about the historical win. “I cried. I was so excited, I’ve never felt this type of happiness ever.”
As NorCal Champs, that meant the team was going to the big game, the Division IV State Championships. The game would take place at the Golden One Center, the same arena that the Sacramento Kings call home. When Reese was asked about how she felt about playing at the Golden One Center, she was always reminded that it took the dedication and talent of the entire team to get there. “There’s no other group that I’d want to be able to experience this with. I was more happy for them to get an opportunity to play than myself,” Reese said with pride.
Coach Buck felt both anxious and determined going into the State Championship game. “Because of our up and down season, I am not sure anyone expected us to make it to the State Championship game,” he said. Coach Buck went on to explain, “Going into the State Championship game, we were very confident and prepared to play Rolling Hills Prep.”
On game day, the team calmly took to the court and began their warm up routine as Priory fans tried to fill the 17,608 seat capacity arena with their large presence of blue and white Prioryattire,facepaint,pompoms,andposterboards.
Priory was well represented by Joseph Calderon ’18, who stood center court to sing a beautiful performance of the national anthem. The team stood behind Joseph with a look of determination and pride.
GIRLS BASKETBALL









































































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