The end of the Paly winter sports season marks a bittersweet conclusion to the Paly boys basketball team’s remarkable journey. On March 11, the team fought hard but ultimately fell to King’s Academy in the Division 3 NorCal Regional Final. Despite the disappointing end, the team’s resilience, passion, and dedication were evident throughout their impressive season.

The team, with 11 seniors, five juniors, and one sophomore, achieved 25 wins, finishing with an outstanding 25-6 record. After finishing second in league, the team entered CCS Division 1 playoffs as the number one seed. Senior Jorell Clark also achieved a significant personal milestone, scoring over 1,000 career points.

Though full of success, the season had its challenges. According to senior Jai Wadhwani, the team often struggled to capitalize on their strongest performances in high-stakes games.

 “The biggest challenge we faced was that we won a lot but we didn’t really win in the biggest games we needed to,” Wadhwani said. “We got second place in the league, we dropped a game we shouldn’t have, and then got second in CCS when we lost to Carlmont.”

Despite that, the team showed great improvement, particularly in their chemistry and ability to work as a cohesive unit. 

“Overall, the greatest improvement was our togetherness and ability to play as a team, like moving the ball and not being selfish,” Wadhwani said. “Towards the end, we were very in sync and our chemistry was at an all-time high.”

Senior Gavin Haase spoke about the team’s defining moments and growth. 

“The most memorable moment and biggest accomplishment from the season was beating MA — it was the first time we’ve beat them in our high school careers,” Haase said. “This season was the best team I’ve been a part of in the three years I’ve played for varsity.”

One of the toughest challenges the team faced was moving past their CCS Championship loss and refocusing for the state playoffs. 

“We really struggled early, but by the end we were playing great defense,” Haase said. “Our team chemistry was pretty great; we all cared about each other and were ready to play hard and compete alongside one another.”

The 2024-25 season may not have ended with a championship title, but the Paly boys basketball team’s growth and accomplishments are clear. Their success also boosted spirit among the whole school, with large, energetic crowds at many games. Their ability to push through challenges and strengthen their bond along the way sets a strong foundation for the future.