The first thing I did when I woke up Wednesday, the day before the biggest game of my life, was get my head right. This was it, I told myself.
I ate a breakfast sandwich and yogurt, got ready and left for campus to meet the team. The whole time my mind was focused on one thing: winning.
This was a business trip. I was locked in and ready to handle business. This must be how the professionals feel.
But as we prepared to load the massive charter bus and make the six-hour drive to Walnut, Calif., we were all reminded of the other side of this trip. That this was also a family trip. The last one we’d take together.
Nobody better to remind us of that than one of our most beloved members. Zach Shamieh. Our friend. Our brother. Our favorite.
He arrived late.
We were scheduled to arrive at 9:00 a.m. He overslept. Fortunately, he doesn’t live far from campus. It was still funny.
This drive down to LA was easy and way faster than what I remember. The charter bus was big. Each of us had our own row. Each of us were allowed to get into our own zone. The first three hours were silent. Most of us were trying to catch up on sleep that we missed. But our first stop woke us up.
The rest of the hours were filled with music, jokes and snacks. There was also silence. No chatter. No music. Just the sound of the bus engine and the ambient noise of freeways. I think that’s when it all hit us. That this was it. That we wanted to make this fun, but we have a job to do.
And then we turned up. “The Biggest G” by EBK Jaaybo gets us hype every time.
Click here to read the first entry in the Playoff Diary with Sterling McClananhan on the Hawks’ journey to state
So that was our ride. Taking in the silence. Getting hype. Then stepping into SoCal and realizing that this is it. We’re finally here. Being out here and seeing the whole team together, it was real.
After checking into our hotel and getting settled, we practiced. Then it was our last practice before our big show. Possible our last practice.
In the evening, we attended a banquet as a team. Every year, the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Association throws a banquet to induct its newest Hall of Famers the night before the state tournament.
We got a pleasant surprise when they announced that our coach, James Giacomazzi, won NorCal Coach of the Year. We were all there together, as a team. His message throughout this entire experience was clear. Play together. Leave everything on the court. Don’t hold back. Don’t save any energy. Because this could be it. Thursday could be the last game. It could also be the game that shows other teams we’re not playing around this year.
Coach has always believed in us. So when he won, we were hype. All of us sitting at the table clapping and smiling. We didn’t really think he was going to win, but he deserves it. Definitely.
Coach has always told us not to take this lightly. This is something a lot of teams and a lot of guys don’t really get to experience. Focus on soaking in the moment but also know there’s work to do.
This is crazy to me. This experience is something I didn’t anticipate. You never know how things are going to turn out. At the end of these two years, I didn’t know what I’d be getting out of it. But this playoff run, and this whole journey we have been on as a team, is a lot. This is what my last year is going to be. Going out with a bang.
I’m so happy I trusted the process. I trusted in my own self and put the work in. Now everything is falling into place. I can’t believe the high school recruit from two years ago that wasn’t even sure they were good enough to play D1 or D2 is here. At the state championship with my JUCO team. Now I have no doubts.
My parents have been my biggest cheerleaders. Coming to all the games, hyping me up and making sure my mind is right. All the calls and all the little texts between us keep me level-headed. All of that means so much.
My dad always says, “Show those coaches.” All the coaches who messed up for not taking me out of high school. For giving those offers to all the other kids. He knows it should’ve been me. He knows I played well enough to deserve those offers. So I’m going to show those coaches. I belong.
My best friend, Malik, also keeps me grounded. He’s watched my whole basketball career. He’s seen me get better and better. He never lets me get too cocky or too hard on myself. He wants the best for me. He’s my voice of reason for sure.
Through all of this, I can’t help but think about my late cousin Terrell. He died in 2017. I looked up to him. That’s why I got his name tatted on my arm. After the Modesto game, his sister showed support on behalf of both of them. I know he would be proud. I just know he’d be super excited and happy to see something that I’m really passionate about come true. I’m so close.
It has all led me to the state tournament. Citrus College is my next challenge.
The Owls play fast like us. But I’m worried that, for some reason, we might take this lightly. That may walk in there not as serious as they are and start off too slow. It all comes down to players making plays, putting the ball in that basket. That is I trust in this team. I always trust that in those moments, we are going to rise to the occasion. Even if we start slow, it’s going to come down to player making plays and putting the ball in the basket. We are going to hit those big shots.
And if we don’t make them, it won’t be because we didn’t go hard. My hope is nothing will be left on the court. My goal is to leave it all out there. That is how I want to make my parents proud. This whole JuCo experience has been the sacrifice we’ve both made. Winning the state championship would make all the sacrifice worthwhile. But I know how I got about it, more than the result, is what makes them proud.
That’s why, after every game, win or lose, blowout or nail-biter, the first thing I do is find my parents in the crowd. I hug them. I talk to them. I share whatever the moment is with them. This next game will be no different. It will be even more impotant this time. Because I made it this far by being the person they raised me to be.
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TOP PHOTO: Sterling McClanahan, the sophomore leader, takes The Express inside the team on this historic playoff run.
Camille Leduc is the editor-in-chief of The Express. Follow her on X, formally Twitter, @CLeduc7603. Sterling McClanahan is a sophomore guard for the Hawks’ men’s basketball team. Follow her on X, formally Twitter, @stevo2clutch.
