![“I wasn't discouraged by some of the obstacles we faced. I learned a lot from the leadership. I found that different people need different ways of receiving feedback — you can't [just] tell them to do something and expect the best. [Some] people needed more incentive. A large part of my role was to figure out what worked for everyone and to figure out how to lead all these separate individuals as a team,” Suhana Bhandare (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SuhanaBhandare_JasmineHansra-1-1200x798.jpg)
![“This is actually from Randy Pausch Randy P. Brick: ‘Walls are there for a reason. You have to show how much you want to overcome them.’ You have to show how much you want something. That's what I've always been able to do with tennis, Link Crew and getting that internship [with Kushy Baby]. It’s important pushing through that — getting around that brick wall, climbing over it or clawing through it,” Yash Sachdeva (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/YashSachdeva_RamBatchu-copy-1200x1002.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Varsity boys basketball came up short in their rematch against Pinewood in an away game on Friday.
Shooting guard Alan Gao (12) splashed a three from the left wing to score the first bucket of the game, but Pinewood retaliated with a pull-up triple on the next possession. Center Oliver Chen (12) secured two offensive rebounds to generate more opportunities for the Eagles. Halfway into the quarter, Pinewood attempted a heads-up inbound scheme by bouncing the ball off point guard Rishaan Thoppay’s (12) back, but Harker blew the play up and stole the ball.
Assistant Coach Eric Lee noticed the intensity that the team brought to executing the details from the first play of the game.
“We focused on our defense and things that we can control,” Lee said. “Control what you can control. So that’s effort, rebounding, second chance points, diving on the floor. I think the boys really came out with a different mindset and achieved everything that we asked them to achieve.”
Throughout the quarter, the Eagles struggled to keep possession while dribbling, and the Panthers capitalized with transition layups to jump ahead 5-13. Still, forward Babila Mfonfu (11) anchored the defense with two blocks and connected with Rishaan for a transition three-pointer. In the final minute of the quarter, Alan drained another three to bring the score to 11-17.
Harker began closing the gap in the second quarter by repeatedly driving into the paint, succeeding with a layup and free throw from point guard Caden Ruan (12). On both ends of the court, the Eagles controlled the boards, with center Vivek Yella (12) rebounding the Panthers’ three-point attempts. Forward Prithvi Pandey (9) converted by flipping in a putback layup. After Caden and Oliver both drove in for layups, the Eagles reduced the deficit to 20-24 with a minute left. Guard Ethan Xu (9) hit two more free throws, but Pinewood quickly responded with a successful floater to end the half 22-26.
Guard Robinson Xiang (12), who sat out due to injury, noticed the shift in mentality the team had made since their last time facing Pinewood, when they lost 26-68.
“We knew it was their senior night,” Robinson said. “They were going to be playing for their friends, families, but we’re not just gonna let them catwalk us. They think they can just shovel us to the side like they did last time. We came out, and we played like it mattered. We made them nervous.”
Pinewood capitalized on Harker’s turnovers and blown coverages on defense to score three quick layups early in the third quarter, but Oliver tapped in a putback to keep Harker in the game at 24-32. Vivek’s defender retreated into the paint and left him open at the top of the key, so he sank his first three-point attempt of the season, causing the Harker bench to erupt.
Midway into the quarter, Caden ripped the ball and finished over his defender in transition to narrow the lead 31-36. After the Panthers scored another three pointer, the Eagles adjusted their offensive strategy and took more jumpshots, resulting in a midrange from Rishaan and a three from Ethan. Caden hit another free throw to end the quarter 37-43.
The Panthers and the Eagles traded field goals to begin the final quarter, with guard Stephen Gao (9) weaving through defenders to knock down a midrange jumper. With six minutes left in the quarter, Harker had the opportunity to bring it to a one-possession game, but turnovers on two consecutive possessions kept the score at 39-43. Pinewood responded by punishing Harker in the paint, even scoring a floater off a missed free throw. Alan hit a triple from the right wing, but the Panthers slowed down their pace and sank a corner three to extend the lead to 42-55 with just two minutes left.
While charging in for a layup, Caden landed on his side after a hard foul from a defender. After walking off the fall, he hit a free throw. Neither side scored in the final minute, and the game ended 43-57.
Alan remarked on the team’ efforts and how he felt settling back into his role on the team after suffering a leg injury a month prior.
“I’m really happy to be back, and I’m glad I can contribute to the team,” Alan said. “We really just took it like a collective group effort. We all had to be in the right mindset to fight for every rebound. We needed everyone to be working to get the rebounds, so that’s what we did today.”
Harker holds a record of 6-15 and faces Eastside College Prep on Friday in the Zhang Gymnasium.
