On the evening of Jan. 24, 2025, the Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) girls basketball team took to the court to face off against the Cate School (Cate) on their annual Senior Night. Prior to the tipoff, senior players, Rihanna Samples ‘25, Lauren Kaller ‘25 and Vivian Ryan ‘25 were gifted flowers and heartfelt speeches from teammates. After this celebration, the game was on and Foothill Tech went on to destroy Cate, 58-37.
Foothill Tech started off strong, winning the tipoff and establishing an early lead against Cate. Samples scored the Dragons’ first points with a floater, followed by Ryan sinking a three-pointer and Malia Mowad ’26 adding another basket from beyond the arc, giving the Dragons an 8-0 lead.
Ryan continued the momentum with a deep two-point shot, while Bella Baum ’26 contributed defensively with a block. Cate fought back with a floater to bring the score to 10-2, but Samples drew a foul, extending the lead to 11-2. Despite Cate’s efforts to narrow the gap, Foothill Tech ended the first quarter with a comfortable lead of 14-7.
In the second quarter, the Dragons continued to dominate. Emerie Heglund ’28 opened the scoring with a floater, and Cate responded with an and-one play to make it 16-10. Cate continued with a layup, but Ryan responded by sinking another three-pointer to bring the score to 21-12. Baum added to the tally with a rebound layup, while Samples kept the momentum with a ball fake and shot from the key, extending the lead to 25-14.
Ryan who led the team with 19 points stated, “I think that’s the most points I’ve ever scored in my life since sixth grade, so it was a pretty great feeling.”
As the seconds were clicking down towards halftime, Jocelyn Morales ’28 put up a buzzer-beater three-pointer, giving the Dragons firm control over the game, 30-14.
The third quarter saw much of the same with continued Dragon dominance. Samples banked a shot to push the score to 32-14. Cate managed to draw fouls and score points, closing the gap slightly to 34-22, but Ryan’s three-pointer and Heglund’s rebound layup widened the lead to 39-22. Despite Cate’s persistent efforts, the Dragons entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable 39-26 advantage.
Heglund commented on her performance, “I wanted to get to my spots and just do what I have to do to help the team and … I think I did what I wanted to do.”
Foothill Tech sealed the game in the final quarter with relentless play. Clara Smith ’26 scored on a fast-break layup, and Sofia Vega ’26 drew a foul, further extending the lead to 42-26. Mowad added a layup, followed by a three-pointer from Ryan and a fast-break lay-up from Kaller. Morales contributed from the free-throw line, and Ryan hit another three to cap off the win for the Dragons, 58-37.
Heglund spoke on her feelings regarding the short amount of time she had left with the seniors, “It’s definitely sad, but I know in the future they’re going to go on to do great things, and it’s been a joy playing with them.”
Head coach, Chuck Ferris spoke on the night as a whole, stating, “They did well, and if it was our goal to have fun and celebrate our seniors, we definitely accomplished that goal. We’re going to miss those seniors but in the future, I think we’ve got the right personnel ready to go and ready to step up.”
The Dragon’s next date of contest will be on Jan. 28, at Ventura College against Thacher School (Thacher) where they look to build off this win.
