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Athletes of the Month
March 12, 2014
Huck Vaughan (12)
Varsity Boys’ Basketball
Position: Forward-Center
Number: 44
Forward-center Huck Vaughan (12) helped lead the Varsity Boys’ Basketball team to its first-ever CCS Finals appearance, stepping in for an injured teammate and exceeding expectations.
Head Coach Butch Keller shared impressions on Huck’s past season.
Teammate Nick Nguyen (11) reflected upon the Harker vs. Sacred Heart game, during which Huck played a central role in the Eagles’ close victory of 71-65.
“Huck had 23 crucial points that helped us win a very important game,” Nick said. “With our starting center [Will Deng (12)] getting hurt, Huck had to step up, and he clearly was ready to play. It was a great game for him and the team.”
Huck’s contributions to the team included his eight points at the Eagles’ game against Carmel, where Harker took the lead 46-40.
For the second time in three years, the team advanced to the Central Coast Section (CCS) semifinals with a 49-42 victory against Soquel High in the quarterfinals on March 1.
Huck scored nine points in the following CCS semifinals game against the Seaside Spartans, where the Eagles became the first Harker boys’ sport to advance to the CCS finals.
These are memories he’ll carry with him all his life. No one can ever take them away.
— mother and librarian Lauri Vaughan
“His dad and I are especially proud that he cultivates and treasures these moments,” Vaughan continued. “It’s something he’s always done.”
Huck ended his last season playing in the historic CCS finals against Sacred Heart Preparatory on March 8 and the division IV CIF State Basketball Northern California playoff round against St. Patrick-St. Vincent on March 12, where he scored three and seven points respectively.
Season Stats
Games played: 27
Season high: 23
Average points per game: 4.9
Average rebounds per game: 2.6
Points: 133
Jordan Thompson (9)
Varsity Girls’ Basketball
Position: Shooting Guard
Number: 32
Varsity shooting guard Jordan Thompson set the court on fire this season, scoring 287 points in her first high school season in 26 games.
At the Harker vs. Immaculate Conception game on Feb. 27, Jordan scored 18 points in the game helped lead the team to a 52-44 victory.
“She sheds little words, but her actions on the court and at practice say it all. She is a true basketball player and is humble about her talents,” Coach Jonah Alves said. “In only this season, she has grown to be a pivotal part of the girls’ Harker basketball program, and I can only see her progressing.”
In February, Jordan stood at an average of 13 points and eight rebounds per game.
Jordan’s 19-point game against Alma Heights Christian on Feb. 10, led the the Eagles to a victory of 36-22.
Her success continued on to the following games, where she scored 13 points against Castilleja on Feb. 11 and 12 points against Mercy (Burlingame) on Feb. 14, despite the Eagles’ losses in the games.
“In the beginning of the year, Jordan didn’t exactly drive to the basket, and it seemed like she was scared to drive,” teammate Lekha Chirala (11) said. “But one day our coach pulled her aside and talked to her, and the next practice Jordan was going to the basket without any fear.”
In the final part of the season, Jordan scored 13 points during the Harker vs. Oceana game, marking the girls’ 58-49 win in the first round of the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs.
Following the big victory, Jordan contributed another 18 points during the Harker vs. Immaculate Conception game and lead the Eagles to a 52-44 victory in the next round of the playoffs.
Stats for Feb.
Points per game: 13
Rebounds per game: 8
Season Stats
Games played: 26
Season high: 19
Points: 287
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on March 12, 2014