In only the fifth game under new head coach Alex Frank, the Anzar boys basketball team experienced something they may never see again.
Instead of handshakes or simple ‘good luck’ exchanges, the Hawks were initiated through a fight song of sorts. Right before tip off on the opposite end of the San Juan Bautista court, the 12 players from New Zealand’s St. John’s College began their pre-game ritual.
Mixing a tribal chant with methodical dance, the international high school basketball team was calling for war with Anzar on Monday. And the Hawks never stood a chance in a 67-35 loss to the team from New Zealand.
As part of a small tour through Northern California, the New Zealand team made a stop in San Juan Bautista on Monday thanks to the national connection with co-athletic director Tracy Carpenter, who coached the New Zealand women’s national team during the 2000 Olympics.
“We are honored just for the fact that we get to play them,” Carpenter said before Monday’s game. “There were a lot of different teams they could have played. It was just an honor to be able to play them.”
The game didn’t go Anzar’s way, though, as the experience of New Zealand overtook the Hawks’ youth. Both teams were littered with underclassmen – no senior touched the floor – but New Zealand never struggled to find the net.
Anzar, meanwhile, continued its early season struggles from the floor, breaking 10 points in a quarter only once.
“Right now we are at a developing stage,” Anzar head coach Frank said. “We are a developing program. We have no seniors. We have one or two juniors that really haven’t played yet, so for us right now it’s about rebuilding and getting structure. Breaking it all down to the fundamentals and getting a core team together. We will be all right. It’s a good learning experience.”
He continued: “They are a good fundamentally sound team. It’s a good learning experience. We knew nothing at all.”
Frank, who played college basketball at Cal State Monterey Bay and pro basketball overseas, is in his first year at Anzar. For now, the team’s goal is to build a team camaraderie before entering into the league season in January.
And Monday’s loss against an international team will only help, he said.
“This is going to help them learn,” Frank said. “We will be a lot better in league play. This game here, we just need to put together four good quarters. We just need to put it all together and finish strong. For me, it’s a life lesson – rebuild, rebuild, rebuild. Rome wasn’t built in a day. We are going to have to work, but overall we are going to be all right.”
For now, the Hawks will just cherish Monday’s opportunity.
On the other side, the game was another chance to showcase the talents of New Zealand, head coach Mel Young said.
“We’ve come into a place where basketball is important,” Young said. “But they have to learn, the game is much different. It focuses the understanding of what makes the game work better. All of those things are what makes it better.”
For nearly a month, the team traveled around California playing teams of all skill levels, hoping to teach the kids of the American game, Young said. The squad leaves on Dec. 17, but not after playing a game nearly everyday.
“Being on the road is the hardest thing,” he said. “You don’t know who you are going to meet and you’re tired. You have to learn to live with each other. There is nothing you can do. But honestly, forget the hospitality, which has been stupendous, but we’ve been blessed with really good people setting us up with games that are an appropriate mix. We’ve been under-matched, overmatched and perfectly matched. It’s been wonderful.”
In the game, Anzar was led by junior Alvaro Gonzales, who finished with 12 points. Alex Samuels finished with eight points and Victor Flores contributed seven points in the loss.
Nikau Mcullough and Jayden Bezzant each scored 12 points for St. Johns in the win.
Anzar will play in the Bob Hagen Tournament in Gilroy. The tournament started Thursday. Look online for an update.
Anzar girls basketball
Playing in a makeup game with Pajaro Valley, the Anzar girls basketball team improved to 4-1 with a dominant 51-19 win over the Grizzlies on Monday.
Tera Reed led the way for the Hawks with 27 points from the floor. Leslie Martinez contributed 10 points and Justine Lee finished with eight for the Hawks. The Hawks never trailed in the contest.
