Despite a dominant first half with a wide lead, the Matadors lost 48-46 to CHS on Feb. 20. The Pioneers gradually caught up to MVHS by the end of the game, and the seniorless squad led by O’Neill — essentially next year’s starters — went into double overtime before finally losing by two points.

After a ten minute senior ceremony in which the seniors wore neon shirts, the rest of the team wore shirts with the seniors’ faces in a heart and almost every speech mentioned The Bachelor, the game began.

Photos by Aditya Pimplaskar

In the first quarter, the only points CHS scored were from free throws, and MVHS was up a staggering 13-2. Rautiainen’s dependable shooting and easy blocks created the lead along with Jennings’ fast breaks and Pollek’s rebounds and that lead remained for most of the game. With two minutes left in the third quarter, CHS trailed by nine points. The aggressive “Defense!” chant that broke out when CHS had the ball seemed unnecessary, even unsportsmanlike. In the final quarter, however, the gap steadily narrowed until CHS trimmed it to just three points. The “Defense!” cheers no longer seemed inappropriate. CHS took a shot and just as the shot clock buzzed, they tied up the game 35-35.

Two minutes and thirty seconds remained in the game. The cheer now sounded desperate and was accompanied by thundering feet. Rautiainen’s free throw put MVHS up one point, but CHS’ three pointer thirty seconds later stole the lead.

With one minute left, O’Neill stole the ball and took a shot.

“When I got that steal, I was like, ‘If I miss, I’m going to be the biggest loser ever,'” O’Neill said. “I was like, ‘you better make it.’ I didn’t even do a left handed layup. I had to use both my hands. I was like, ‘I could do a left handed layup and look cool,’ but I was like, ‘Nah, I’m not gonna risk it. I’ll go with what I can do.'”

It paid off. O’Neill tied the score 38-38, and a final CHS attempt to score could not change that. By this point, Rautiainen, Pollek and Jennings had all fouled out, and the rest of the game was up to the remaining players.

The four quarters ran out, but the teams would play in overtime. An additional four minutes were added to the clock.

Coach Sara Borelli felt a sense of relief when she realized that the game would go into overtime and that the team still had the chance to win.

“It was frustrating because we should have never been in that situation,” she said. “We were dominating in the first half of the game.”

CHS made a free throw a minute into overtime, and freshman Joyce Chen made one of her own, tying the game. A minute later, the same thing happened — CHS made a free throw, Chen made a free throw and the score was tied once again.

The “Defense!” cheer returned, this time followed by loud booing after CHS scored with forty seconds remaining in overtime. Seconds before the timer ran out, O’Neill grabbed the ball and shot. The crowd stood up, their eyes glued on the ball as it went in. She tied the score again, 42-42. Another four minutes were added to the clock.

“We were all freaking out,” senior Krithika Rao said. “All our hearts were racing, we were screaming from the bench.”

Photos by Malini Ramaiyer

Chen scored early on in the second overtime. Boys basketball players, who were watching before their own game, cheered loudly. CHS made a free throw, but MVHS was still in the lead 44-43.

Two minutes remained and all eyes were on the court. A CHS ball nearly went into the net, but it rolled out at the last second.

A “Defense!” chant started to break out as CHS got the rebound, but O’Neill knocked the ball out of the player’s hand and headed straight for the other basket, scoring an easy two points and putting MVHS up 46-43. A minute later, she was back on the other side of the court, blocking another CHS shot.

The Pioneers scored a quick two points and with 1:26 remaining in the second overtime, MVHS called a timeout. CHS scored again with twenty seconds remaining, and MVHS was now behind 47-46.

CHS took two free throws. They made the first one and widened the lead to 48-46. As they took the second, MVHS fans began barking, which perhaps prevented it from going in.

Under seven seconds remained in the game, and it looked like MVHS still had a chance. However, after the Matadors were called for double dribbling and only three seconds remained, neither team could score and the game was finally over.

The double overtime, which according to Borelli typically happens only once a season, provided a chance to look at how next year’s team will work together.

“They played hard, they kept their composure,” Borelli said. “They played every second of those two overtimes. [Next season] is looking very hopeful.”

“Even though we lost,” sophomore Shivalika Chavan said, “we got the undefeated team into double overtime. That’s something to be proud of.”

Girls basketball has qualified for CCS, but is yet to find out locations and times.