San Jose Mercury Article / Santa Cruz Sentinel Article / San Francisco Chronicle Article

SANTA CLARA- After early season championships in the Glenn Ventura Classic and the Monte Vista tournament and the consolation title at the Mitty Invitational, the Valley Christian varsity girls basketball team had earned a 3-0 record in "trophy games" where the victor would earn coveted hardware. On friday afternoon at the Leavey Center on the campus of Santa Clara University, the Lady Warriors ran their record to 4-0 in trophy games with a dominating 53-37 triumph over an outstanding Santa Cruz team. While the incredible mental toughness and talent of this young group of athletes is a prime reason for the Warriors perfect record in the trophy games, closer inspection reveals that the story of the Lady Warriors women's basketball team has little to do with winning trophies. Instead, it is story filled with examples of sacrifice, joy, love, overcoming adversity, accepting roles, responding to challenges and welcoming high expectations in every area.

The spirit of the Valley Christian girls basketball team was on full display friday at the Leavey Center. Ultimately, the Warriors won the same way they had twenty pervious times during the 2006-7 season with stifling defensive pressure, balanced scoring and a tremendous display of basketball intellect. However, many spectators came away from the Warriors first ever CCS title win with a better appreciation of the little things that make this group so special.

Exhibit A was sophomore floor general Jazzmyne Ross who as she has all year demonstrated her incredible poise and all around game with a performance that saw her fill up the stat chart...eight steals, six rebounds, six assists to go along with her four points. In addition, Jazzmyne provided a steadying presence for the team with her quiet confidence and determination in the face of any challenge.

Exhibit B was senior Torey Walker, a second team all league player as a junior willing to sacrifice a bit of what was "best for her" in order fit into an overall team concept that spread the scoring and ball handling more evenly and asked her to do more work in the paint as a rebounder. Though Torey still got her points (eleven in the CCS title game including a huge three point field goal in the second half) it was her work under the glass and on the defensive end of the floor that the team needed most...and Torey gave that selflessly

Exhibit C was the three headed post play of junior Sarah Johnson, sophomore Amy Griffith and freshmen Taylor Robertson. Three soft spoken young ladies with different strengths and different minutes and different responsibilities depending on the opponent and the needs of the team. As they have throughout the year, all three contributed in their own ways battling bigger, older and more experienced post players and each won their individual battles. All three return next year and will continue to push each other...and push the program forward.

Exhibit D was junior Morgan Allen who did not see much action in the early part of the year, but continued to battle every day in practice with hopes of an increased role. Eventually, she worked her way into the line-up on a more regular basis through her tireless effort and determination. In the championship game, Morgan entered the lineup late in the first quarter on found herself open about eighteen feet from the basket on the left baseline as the first quarter wound down. With the confidence of someone well prepared for the opportunity, Morgan swished the ball through the hoop as the buzzer sounded for her only points of the game. As Morgan headed to the bench her expression never changed, although you could just feel her wanting to break out a huge smile indicating her satisfaction in the moment. When Morgan reached the bench, she found her teammates waiting for her...clapping, cheering and patting her on the back. It was only then that she let out the huge smile as if she realized that it was OK now....after all her teammates were even happier for her than she was for herself.

Exhibit E was freshmen point guard AJ Newton who emerged on the Valley Christian basketball season in a big way as the MVP of the teams first tournament. AJ would eventually go on to lead the WCAL in scoring but more than that she would have to learn how to handle the expectations, responsibilities and pressures that go along with her talent. In the CCS title game, AJ was her normal brilliant self leading the team in scoring and proving too quick for any other player on the court. Most impressive was a sequence in the second half when AJ spun to the hoop for a driving lay-up as she had so many times throughout the year. This time though, a Santa Cruz player appeared out of no where to make a beautiful play and reject her shot in the stands. Immediately after the rejection, AJ looked over in the direction of the Valley Christian bench and fans and flashed a huge, bright smile as if to acknowledge (a bit sheepishly) the incredible play of the Santa Cruz player. Amid the "pressure" of the championship game, AJ sent a strong message to all in attendance that it was just a game not life or death...at that she was there to enjoy every minute of playing a game that she loved.

Exhibit F was the coaching staff all making their first appearance in a CCS title game. The selfless leadership of long time junior varsity coach Dennis Brown who was always willing to do whatever was best for the program without regard to what was best for him. The true joy in the way that "worker bee" Dustin Watson watched these girls (many of whom he had coached to championships in junior high school) compete on their biggest stage yet. The steady, experienced leadership of Yolanda Williams always there to hug one of the girls when they needed it the most and be a voice of experience for the rookie head coach. Finally, Richard Harris, the rookie head coach himself who was willing to answers God's call to head the program and then navigated his way through incredible challenges in his first year with truly inspiring calm and maturity.

Exhibit G were the role players, Monica Jackson, Sandra Kreitem, Cherrelle McMillian and Rachel Weerth. One of the first things you notice when you see the Valley Christian girls basketball team play is that every member of the bench rises to greet teammates when they come off the floor and smile, encourage and support their teammates all through the game. In the CCS championship game (as was the case in each of the Warriors four CCS wins) every member of the roster had an opportunity to play and when they played...they played well. Their efforts were highlighted by a Kreitem three point field goal in the quarterfinals and by JV call-up Weerth scoring the final points of the evening in the title game.

Exhibit F was team captains Vanessa Guerrero and Kelsey Byrd. Two young ladies serious about their faith and their desire to lead the team. As was the case all year, they both performed well. Vanessa drilled a jumper from about fifteen feet to opening the scoring and calm some of the team's nerves and Kelsey tallied eight points on the evening. Both provided rebounding and defensive intensity throughout the championship game. However, it was the way these two exemplified the spirit of the Valley Christian girls basketball program that was most inspiring. They share the same position and (though each could make a case for "more playing time") they share the playing time in the same dignified way they share the team leadership responsibility. From the pregame sportsmanship meeting to the opening tip off to the final whistle....they were the face of the Warriors. Yet, when the dust had settled and the announcer called for the captains to accept the championship trophy, they shared that too. Even though they "deserved" and had "earned" the right stand out in front of the crowd and accept the trophy, they were willing to share the spotlight with their teammates as the entire team came out to accept the trophy, signifying the total team effort. It was yet another act of selfless sacrifice from these two who all year were willing to share the spotlight and the leadership of the team. In doing so they sent a strong message that true leadership is about service and sacrifice and their leadership has elevated the Valley Christian girls basketball program to previously unknown levels.

The girls are back in action at 7:00 on thursday evening against an outstanding team from Marin Catholic High School. It will be the first ever Northern California girls basketball play-off game on the Valley Christian campus, and one you truly don't want to miss.