Carter Sampson

Sometimes it’s about the journey, not the destination. This year’s basketball team learned a lot about themselves and their teammates through the adversity they faced this season. As a young team with an extremely difficult schedule, these Knights battled throughout the winter.

Fan favorite Micah Brittain said, “The best part of the season has been seeing the team improve every game and get physically and mentally tougher.”

The three seniors on the team have led by the way they fight from the opening tip to the final whistle. This year’s juniors have also led the team. Max Rich and Liam Collins brought experience and athleticism to the squad, and Kenneth Perez-Mendoza came as a surprise star as point guard.

The highlight of the season was the victory over Great Hearts rival Veritas in overtime. Thanks to a clutch shot by Max Rich and 26 points from Liam Collins, the Knights pulled out a 66-61 win.

Another great moment was the hardfought senior night game against Rancho Solano. TPA kept with one of the best teams in the state, and the crowd roared for seniors Micah Brittain, Denzy Rustempasic, and Sam Fowler.

Rich said, “We said going into the season that regardless of the scoreboard, we were going to play hard. Regardless of the scoreboard, we were going to finish.” The Knights showed that determination in every game they played. We look forward to next season, but we will all miss watching Micah launch his deep threes. Go Knights!