Andrew Bensch

Wilcox Wins First Playoff Game Since 2019

The Wilcox varsity girls’ basketball team snapped a six-year drought Friday night. Playing in its first CCS playoff game since 2019 (when the team played in three playoff games), the Chargers easily handled the Andrew Hill Falcons to the tune of a 54-32 victory.

With key rotational players Carissa Quistian and Shriya Ratnani unavailable, senior stars Dexie Medida and Evelyn Edwards led the way, getting help from Gigi Garcia and Sharanya Salvadi in some new-look combinations.

“We had to get ourselves ready to play,” chimed Wilcox Head Coach Justin Fujihara. “People being gone definitely impacted our normal routine, how we approach the game, with lineups, rotations and strategy. Fortunately enough, we played two games so far with these rotations and people have stepped up to fill that void with two wins.”

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“It’s more so on the defensive end,” added Medida on missing Quistian in particular. “With Carissa being out sick, we don’t have our defensive leader.”

Despite missing the team’s defensive stalwart, the Chargers held the Falcons to just 15 points in the first half, and the game was pretty much over midway through the third quarter.

The Chargers went on a 13-2 run to start the second half, building its first 20-point lead of the night. Fueling that run was Medida going perfect from the free throw line in five attempts, including an and-one bucket on a crafty layup off the glass. Edwards also stood out with a nice midrange bucket and Garcia used her strength to bully her way to the rim for a layup.

“Those 15-footers are her shot,” smiled Garcia on Edwards’ midrange prowess. “I see her open, and I pass those to her. I know she’s going to drain those opportunities.”

“During practice, that’s her shot,” echoed Medida. “In practice, whenever we run five on five, that’s her shot, that midrange or short corner. She’s worked on it so many times. She loves it; she’s comfortable in that area and gets into a rhythm.”

As a team the Chargers appeared smooth with the ball all over the court. Whether it was Medida’s free throws, Evelyn’s midrange, Garcia and Medida from beyond the arc and Medida and Salvadi driving the lane for layups, everything was falling through the net.

If there was any concern for Wilcox coming out of this game, it would be overall team health. Medida took a couple of hard fouls in the first half that saw her getting treatment for her lower back prior to the start of the third quarter. With the game in hand, Fujihara was able to rest Medida for the final 3:48.

“I think I’m fine, I think I just need to stretch it out,” responded the senior on her bumps and bruises. “Couple of hard falls, but it’s all good.”

Seemingly healthy enough to still dazzle in the second half against the Falcons, it made for a potentially tricky spot for Fujihara to figure out when to rest his primary ball handler. Missing two players already out of a usual eight-player rotation, five players are still needed on the court.

“It’s always difficult to make the decision whether you balance resting a player versus them staying in a rhythm,” chimed Fujihara on the rest vs rust debate. “Given the couple of hits earlier in the game that she took, a couple of falls to the ground, obviously, that helped make that decision a little easier.”

Wilcox Wins First Playoff Game Since 2019

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