The boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball seasons were filled with highs and lows. Coming into the season, both teams introduced new head coaches and marked a fresh start for each program. For the Boys, it was Coach Hossam Marquez, somebody who has been with Gullivern for many years and has witnessed the development of a majority of the players since they were in elementary school.
“ Coach Hossam’s first year as the varsity head coach, and just the natural fit it was for him to take over and lead the program— he’s been great for this program,” Assistant Coach Cardoza said.
On a team with 10 seniors and a new head coach, the upcoming season was a mystery. However, defying all odds, Boys Varsity Basketball finished the regular season with a record of 18-7, securing the one seed in 3A District playoffs. Top performers include senior guard Jacob Marquez, averaging 27 points per game and four assists while shooting an impressive 61% percent from the field and 63% from beyond the arc.
“The season overall has been emotional but unforgettable for sure. I’ve been with this group of guys since I was five years old; now we’re all a group of 10 or 11 seniors. We’re all like a big family, and we’ve been coached and have been coached by my dad. So, it’s just very emotional and a hell of a ride,” Marquez said.
With the team being challenged heightwise, players such as junior Samuel “Champ” Smith and senior Caden Roberts had to step up by using their athleticism and did not disappoint, with Smith throwing down many dunks. In the District playoffs, the Raiders cruised their way to the championship but fell just short, losing by one. However, the team went on a historical run in the Regionals, winning both the Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
“Winning regional quarters was a big moment because the coaches were saying Gulliver’s only gone to five regional semifinals, and last year we made it too, so being a part of two out of five is pretty cool,” Marquez said.
As for the Girls, although not achieving all of their goals, they finished the season with an 8-11 record. Although they started the season on a rough note, they dominated during the second half of the season, winning 5 of their last 7 games, including impressive 71-2 and 56-9 victories. The team was led by sophomore guard Mikayla Brown, who was ranked 13th in the state in scoring, averaging 25 points per game.
(Devon Roy)
“I’d say this season we learned a lot about ourselves and our team, and I think we’re all able to grow as players, myself included, and just learn from a new coach and learn just in general how to become a better player. Even though our record wasn’t as good as we hoped it to be, it didn’t show how much we improved as a team this year,” Brown said.
The team entered the playoffs with a 2-2 record in the Palm District and took a tough loss in the first round of the playoffs. However, with a relatively young roster, the future is bright for Girls Basketball.
