Boys defeat the odds, tame the Chronicle's overrated Mustangs (3/09)

By Daniel Kim

Mar. 23, 2009

     “We Believe,” goes the Golden State Warriors slogan. Taking this motto to heart, the underdog Warriors made it into the playoffs.
      Likewise, the varsity boys’ basketball team believed and delivered. Despite overwhelming odds against the boys, the Cardinals achieved a hard won 48-47 victory in the championship game against Lincoln on March 6.
      After their memorable game, the team won its first Northern California State Tournament game against Salinas on March 9.
      However, a day later, a much larger team from Danville’s Monte Vista High School defeated the exhausted Cardinals. Regardless, the Cardinals made history by being the first Lowell boys’ basketball team to advance past the first round of the state tournament. “It’s something to hang their hats on,” head coach Robert Ray boasted.
      Even before the season started, The San Francisco Chronicle predicted that the Cardinals would finish third place in their division and fifth or sixth in the league. Instead, the team defied those odds by finishing first in their division and defeating the favored Mustangs in the championship.
      In their previous face-off against the Mustangs on Feb. 6, the Cardinals were blown out 46-34 due to turnovers and difficulty breaking the Mustangs’ press. Luckily, the team learned from their mistakes; in the championship game, they had zero turnovers and broke Lincoln’s press every time. “After the Lincoln game in the season, we didn’t lose a single game,” junior center Robbie Pollard said.
      In front of a packed Kezar Stadium, the team stuck to their game plan of shutting down Lincoln’s star forward De’End Parker. Senior guard Mikey Yonemoto was responsible for guarding Parker. “I was up to the challenge,” Yonemoto said. “I knew I had tons of help from my teammates.”
      The score was close in the first quarter with the Mustangs leading 15-14, but in the second quarter, the Mustangs scored only four points. The second half proved to be just as intense as Lincoln came out strong in the third quarter. The Mustangs nearly snatched the lead in the fourth, but much needed three-point plays by Yonemoto and senior guard and forward Yuhki Sakai sealed the win for the Cardinals.
      Prior to the championship game, on March 4, the boys upset Marshall in the semifinals 56-44. Sakai scored a career high of 35 points in the game, which included 9-10 from the free-throw line and 8-10 from the three-point line. “We lost to Mission last year in the semifinals, and I just didn’t want to taste that same feeling of defeat,” Sakai said. “I just did what it took for us to win.”
      On Feb. 27, the Cardinals destroyed Washington 52-33 in a Battle of the Birds rematch game with a similar game plan as the last Battle of the Birds game. For half the game, the Cardinals were leading by around twenty points; the boys held onto this lead to advance to the semifinals.
      Even with a season of ups and downs, the boys have succeeded in snatching their fourth championship in sixth seasons.
      Though the team will lose three starters, including Yonemoto and Sakai, as well as senior forward Andy Liu, the team will bring back strong and talented players such as junior point guard Anthony Clay and Pollard. The team is also returning junior lighting-quick guard Kevin Kung, who, in combination with Clay, will make for one of the quickest backcourts in the city.
      In addition, junior center Faheem Carter will be returning to the Cardinals. Carter was one of the team's most efficient players this season. Carter plus Pollard will make one of the most potent frontcourts in the city as well.
      The team also looks to get valuable contributions from sophomore forward Ricco Price and sophomore point guard Casey Chow.

Most Valuable Players
      The Lowell’s choices for MVP are senior guards Mikey Yonemoto and Yuhki Sakai. Yonemoto was the crucial factor for the team’s championship victory, limiting Parker to 14 points and scoring 16 points himself. “He was the reason why we won the game,” Pollard said.
      Yonemoto was plagued last season by an ankle injury but made a quick recovery to boost the team.
      Clay echoes his agreement with Pollard. "Mikey is probably the most talented player we have," Clay said. "We wouldn't be the same team without him."

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