SAN FRANCISCO — Almost every basketball player dreams of playing in an NBA arena.
Very few ever do. But on Tuesday night at Chase Center, a few dozen high school hoopers from St. Ignatius and Sacred Heart Cathedral made their fantasies a reality on the shores of the City.
The two schools renewed their Bruce-Mahoney series with two matchups – boys and girls – under the watchful eyes of thousands of San Franciscans.
The experience was one players from all four teams will never forget.
“It means everything,” SI junior girls forward Mary Ennis said. “First, it’s like the biggest game of the year. We look forward to playing SHC every year because of the big rivalry. It’s always so fun under the lights. Especially at the Chase Center, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The games were compelling, especially the girls’ matchup, which was tied at halftime. But more than anything, it was a celebration of prep sports in San Francisco. Even new SF mayor Daniel Lurie made an appearance.
“It’s a tradition. It’s something that brought these two schools together,” Lurie told the Bay Area News Group. “I was a little concerned about them filling Chase, and they did an amazing job. SI and SHC students brought it, fans brought it, parents brought it. It was a good atmosphere.”
St. Ignatius’ student section nearly filled two full lower bowl sections of seats. As a whole, the lower bowl of the arena was covered with red and green.
“I haven’t been here in a while, but I’ve been a couple of times,” said SI boys junior guard Raymond Whitley. “It was great to finally be on the floor. It was a surreal experience.”
“It’s insane,” added SI boys freshman center Alexander Moore. “It’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. Just walking in for a shootaround was crazy.”
The pair of games, which clinched the storied multi-sport Bruce-Mahoney trophy for SI, brought together families from across the City to commemorate one the Bay Area’s great local rivalries.
“It was fantastic that every single one of their family members was able to be here,” said SHC coach Jason Greenfield. “My entire family was here. So in order for us to truly embrace it, our families had to be here, and it was great to see all their faces. The kids had a phenomenal time. Game aside, I’m so happy we didn’t have to turn anybody away. They wanted to come see this game. I’m very happy, and I feel blessed that we’re able to do this.”
With the wins by the SI boys and girls, the Wildcats are 4-0 against SHC in Bruce-Mahoney games this season. The two schools compete in football, volleyball, boys and girls basketball and baseball. So far, the Cats have been the superior team in every sport.
“A win. We got it. We took care of it. That’s what matters,” said SI boys coach Jason Greenfield. “My kids had a lot of fun. My kids were happy to be here. And I guess that’s what’s most important, right?”
Indeed it is.
“It was everything and more,” said SI freshman guard Lulu Giometti, who led the girls game with 18 points. “A lot of people came. It was very lively. It was really cool having the student section right behind us when we made our shots.”
