59-59, with six seconds left on the clock, nearly a decade of history pressed down on the shoulders of every LWHS Varsity Boys Basketball player.
“I–.” After Finn McDonald ’26 missed two crucial free throws, University’s Lucas Lau seized the ball, sprinting to take the winning shot.
Hearts beat fast through the thick air of tension as anxious fans echoed shouts of encouragement across San Francisco’s Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors’ home.
“I believe–.” Just as the ball left Lau’s fingertips, McDonald leaped, swiping the ball down with force.
“Race to Chase”, formerly “Roaracle,” began in 2007 as an exciting opportunity for Bay Area high schools Lick-Wilmerding and University to play on an NBA court. The last LWHS boys win was in 2018, the girls in 2023. This year, the pressure was on to finally break University’s streak.
“I believe that–.” The crowd erupted as overtime loomed.
Fans were loud with excitement, with hundreds of students decked out in black and yellow. “For both games, I felt exhilarated, and I felt a lot of Tiger pride,” Lila Range ’26 said. “I have never seen our school show up with so much spirit.”
“I believe that we–.” With fresh energy, Lucas Bratt ’26 and Austin Sheepo ’26 opened overtime with a three-point jumper, landing the first blow.
While the girls’ team didn’t quite clinch victory this year, they left the court with pride. “We played through the entire game and lost, knowing it was only one game of our season,” captain Hailey Moy ’25 said. “It’s nice to play a sport that we all love together and have a chance to represent our school.”
The game ended with a score of 57-41. Despite the outcome, the girls had several exciting plays, including Lauryn Lacap’s ’26 three-point-buzzer-beater.
“This year’s Chase was a sign that we need to come back even stronger next season. Coming up short with University is only fueling our fire,” Lacap said.
“I believe that we will–.” University, feeling the pressure, missed their next shot, allowing LWHS to push their lead.
Beyond the scoreboard, this year’s games felt different because of the family-like bond within the teams. Early in the season, both teams struggled with “hero ball,” individual players trying to carry the game alone. However, through tough losses and tiring practices, they learned to build chemistry. “You want to create a family environment,” boy’s coach Eliot Smith said. “You want everyone to feel special.”
This bond is what carried them through Chase. “I could look at everyone in the eyes and know they wanted to win just as bad as me,” Olin Meyer ’26 said. “I’ve never been part of a team like this before.”
The girls’ team also found strength in their connection. “Our culture isn’t just about what happens on the court–it’s about how close we are outside of basketball,” Amaya Lily Tavu ’26 said.
“I believe that we will win!” As the final buzzer sounded, and the score 74-73 shone bright, LWHS had done it–for the first time in seven years, they had won “Race to Chase”.
For many, this win was not just about basketball–it was about feeling proud to represent LWHS. “Part of our motivation was that few people in our school thought we could win,” Bratt said. “We were the underdogs, but hard work paid off.”
“This year gave us a taste of victory,” Max Mercer ’27 said. “And next year, we’ll be even hungrier.”
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