As hundreds of Lick-Wilmerding and University High School (UHS) students filed through the glass doors of the Chase Center, the enthusiasm and school spirit were almost tangible. Metallic beads, face paint and pom-poms colored the crowd black, yellow and red. The roar of cheering students and the snap of thunder sticks filled the air. And as each team’s score began to rise, eyes fixated on the giant jumbotron hovering above the players’ heads.
On January 17, the men’s and women’s LWHS and UHS varsity basketball teams became the first high school teams to play at the brand-new Chase Center arena. The schools continued their 13-year-old tradition of facing off at the Golden State Warriors’ home court, which began at Oracle Arena.
As Women’s Varsity Basketball team captain Mira Larrance ’20 waited for the referee to blow his whistle, she could feel the pressure of the rivalry game with so many of her peers watching. But after tip-off, she quickly found the rhythm of the game.
“There’s lots of nerves,” she said. “And there’s lots of excitement, which is fun…It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy it a lot.”
The LWHS men’s team played first—they lost 49-52 in a close match. The team scored 20 points in the last quarter to narrow UHS’s double-digit lead, but were ultimately unable to pull ahead. Highest scorers were Allen Wilson ’20 (16 points), Evan Wallis ’22 (11 points), and Morgan Harris ‘21 and Colly Urdan ’22 (7 points each). This year’s team captains are Wilson and Justin Detweiler ’20.
Ryan Chin ’22 said the energy of the big crowd made him feel supported and want to perform better. While the team hasn’t done as well so far this season, he said he thinks they have the same amount of talent as the best teams in the league. He’s looking forward to their “bright future” in the years to come.
“Being able to go onto the floor, sitting on the same benches that NBA teams sit on is a really good experience,” he said, “even if you don’t plan on taking basketball to the next level.”
The LWHS women’s team won 64-26 in a blowout game against UHS. The team held a wide lead throughout the game, only ever trailing within the first few seconds. Top scorers were Dominique Cabading ’22 (15 points), Larrance (13 points) and Annabel Schneiberg ’22 (13 points). Team captain Ava Grey ’21 said beating UHS was a morale boost to their team and the Lick student body.
Last year, the women’s basketball team won their league championships and went to NCS and CIF—farther than any LWHS women’s basketball team had gone before. Larrance said she is confident they are even better this year, and has high hopes for the rest of their season.
Lick’s women’s team is currently ranked first in NCS, which has grown the team’s momentum even more. “Our hope is to win NCS, because our league isn’t very strong, so that’s hopefully expected,” Grey said. “[We want] to win NCS or States.”
The first year playing at the Chase Center brought logistical challenges, said athletics director Eliot Smith.
According to Smith, plans for the Chase Center event weren’t finalized until the Wednesday night before the Friday game. There were conflicts with the Warriors, who needed to practice on the court at 7:30 pm, and the Orlando Magic, who wanted the stadium from 12 pm to 2:30 pm to prepare for their upcoming game. Additionally, coordinating the event right after winter break meant it was harder to contact UHS coaches.
In the past, students have been let out early to attend games at Oracle Arena. Due to the scheduling issues with the NBA basketball teams, students were unable to miss school. Because the games would take place after school right before a three-day weekend, Smith said he worried fewer students would want to go to Chase Center. But within only ten minutes of releasing bus sign-ups, hundreds had already signed up.
The tradition of playing at a professional arena started in 2007, when former head of school Albert Adams decided it would be good for students to take half a day off to celebrate their school spirit. For Smith, the Chase Center tradition is still about the excitement and animated environment the event cultivates.
“It’s really a social thing,” Smith said, “where the kids get a chance to really come together, the class, the school, to enjoy the environment and feel special.”`
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