The announcement took both SHC and SI by storm: this year, the Bruce-Mahoney basketball game would not take place at the USF War Memorial Gym like usual. Instead, the boys and girls basketball teams would be playing at the Chase Center, the home court of San Francisco’s own Golden State Warriors, and newly the Valkyries. It was exciting news for the student body, and of course, the biggest opportunity came for the players, who would get the privilege to say they set foot on an NBA court to play SHC’s biggest rivals. Not a lot of people get those kinds of bragging rights.
For seniors Aniyah Versosa and Maddie Eade, it was daunting at first. The change in venue from the Hilltop to the Chase Center carried a heavy weight. The showdown between the longest standing private high school rivalry in the nation was now in a billion-dollar stadium. Seating capacity shot up from less than 6,000 to over 18,000, allowing more than just students, parents, and alumni to spectate. Scores, pictures, and videos were displayed on “Hooptopia,” one of the biggest and most advanced scoreboards in the NBA. The lower section of the stadium was flooded with Wildcat and Irish fans alike, with a total of 8,064 in attendance. “For most of us it’s going to be our one and only time to play in an arena and atmosphere like that,” Eade explained. “It was pretty nerve-racking, honestly. But I think the more we played and the more we got into the game, the more comfortable we felt.” Eade certainly did get comfortable on the court. She picked up eight rebounds and was the team’s point leader with 15 points, 6 of which were NBA-length triples.
Similarly, Versosa did not let the new environment affect her performance. “Being my last year I was able to play in the Bruce, it put a little more pressure on. Other than that, it was less about the crowd.” There was only one logistical issue she had trouble adjusting to: the new arena lighting. “It was definitely brighter in there. I didn’t notice much difference [in the court] size-wise, but the lighting threw me off.” This trouble with lighting didn’t come close to killing her game, though. Right out of the gate, she put the Irish ahead by 3, and ended her run with putting a 3-pointer on the board at the top of the third quarter. Along with totalling 10 points, Versosa set her teammates up for shots with several integral assists.
On the boys side, point guard Cory Wong ‘26 didn’t treat it differently from any other Bruce-Mahoney. “Once you get into the game, you’re so locked in on what you need to do as a player and how you need to win that everything just goes out the door.” Wong made two free throws and both 2-point attempts, posting a total of 8 points. It was a surreal experience for him to play on an NBA floor, but all he cared about was that he got time on the court. Compared to playing at Brother-Arnold or USF, Wong admitted, “Honestly, I really have no preference. All I want to do is play. Of course, the big games are big because of where you’re playing at, but at the end of the day, it’s basketball. I just want to play the sport I love, you know?”
The Irish and Wildcats faced off in back-to-back games, with the girls tipping off at 5 and the boys at 7:30. Although the Wildcats came out on top for both matches, the Irish put up a good fight. Particularly impressive was Kiran Tate-Day, who, despite being a sophomore, led the Irish in baskets, assists, and steals. The losses experienced Tuesday night may not have been what students hoped for, but they do not define either team. With the women’s team’s 11-2 record, Versosa is ready for their next encounter with SI: “We’ll definitely come back even harder. For now, we just have to move on to the next game.” The Irish basketball teams still have the tail-end of their seasons to continue growing and improving. The road ahead is full of potential, so keep an eye out as the WCAL Winter Championship season rolls on.
