The Falcons lost 42-50 to Mills High in the quarterfinals of the CIF Central Coast Section Division III tournament (CCS) on Feb. 25 rounding out the season with an overall record of 14-12 and a conference record of 4-8.

“We were in our heads a lot,” junior post Berry Bailey said. “The pressure got to us and the nerves got the best of us. We came out really weak in the first quarter, then fought back, but a little too late.”

The girls started CCS strong, with a 43-39 win against South San Francisco High in the second round of CCS on Feb. 22. 

“Going into CCS, we were definitely the underdogs, but we pushed through all the obstacles the best that we could,” Bailey said, referring to the numerous injuries the team, coached by Danny Wallace, has encountered this year.

Among others, junior point guard Jane Loo tore her ACL, sophomore post Amaragana Tyagi injured her knee, sophomore guard Naomi Mallik sprained her ankle and senior guard Anika Prasad experienced shin and back pain.

Bailey said that she is proud of her teammates and happy with the season. 

“The team became like a family on and off the court,” she said. “We all respect each other very much and love each other and are heartbroken to see the seniors leave.”

The team will lose senior guard Anika Prasad and senior post Ella Parr to graduation. 

“In my years of basketball, I learned just how much effect your teammates have on your work ethic,” Parr said. “Nothing feels better than getting to lift people up. I’m going to miss the competitive energy basketball had.”

Although she will miss her graduating teammates, Bailey is excited for next year’s season and hopes that the remaining players push through to go further in CCS. 

“We want to meet our rivals, Aptos, in the finals of CCS and hopefully bring back a trophy,” she said.