In the crosstown rivalry match, boys basketball defeated Gunn High School 63-50 on Jan. 11.

Head Coach Jeff LaMere said going into the game, the team understood that a victory over Gunn would be a formidable challenge.

“Whenever we play this game against Gunn, you can throw the records out (because) we know that they’re going to give us their best shot,” LaMere said. “This was by far the best that they’ve played, and so I was really proud of our guys to be able to weather the storm on the road.”

As they knew Gunn would be a challenge, senior point guard Gavin Haase said the team needed to play their best to come out on top.

“You know, (we) got to be tenacious,” Haase said. “Gunn was really tenacious tonight, I’ll credit that to them. Even though we have a very talented team, we can’t rely on our talents if we want to be the best team in our league or the best team in our section, which is a goal of ours. We got to play (with) tenacity, we got to play with force, and we got to leave it all on the court.”

Moving forward, Haase said the team also needs to improve organization on the court.

(We need to) make sure we’re focused and dialed in,” Haase said. “We got to make sure we’re communicating, make sure we’re all in the right spots, and stay focused on defense.”

LaMere said the win was a product of every team member’s effort, from the starters to the energy on the bench.

“Everyone is investing, everyone’s coming to practice,” LaMere said. “We win as a team and we lose as a team.” 

In light of the season going by quickly, LaMere said it’s important to enjoy every moment.

“This goes fast, so when you have a game like this and you win, you need to enjoy it,” LaMere said. “Enjoy the journey. If you don’t have joy with what you’re doing with this game, it’s hard to come out day after day. You need to be able to find joy in what you’re doing, joy with your teammates, joy in togetherness, joy in the journey. And I think that’s a really important piece that sometimes can get lost a little bit as you go through.”

As a result of the rivalry spirit, LaMere said energy in the gym was electric, and the stands packed with fans was a reminder of why games like these are so special. 

“(This game was) by far the best atmosphere we’ve played in all year, and it makes the game exciting,” LaMere said. It’s really fun for both teams, and it’s fun for everybody who’s here. You know, it’s what the game should be about.”

Boys basketball will face off against Milpitas High School on Jan. 15.