The Last Shot : The Dynamic Duo Takes on Senior Night

On Thursday, February 8th, the Redwood Men’s Basketball team held their Senior Night against Redwood’s Rivals, the Mount Whitney Pioneers.

By: Solomon Burciaga

It has been a successful season for the team, as they have gone undefeated in league, and were named East Yosemite League Champions.

The two Seniors of the team, Evan Galley, ‘24, and Jackson Swanson, ‘24, share their thoughts before and after the intense Senior Night game. Not only are they the only Seniors on Varsity, but the duo have been friends for as long as time can tell.

Galley says that he has had many teammates, but he and Swanson are like family. “With all those teams there were a bunch of us playing. He’s the one who stuck it out with me and made it to Senior year with me,” says Galley.

Swanson says, “[Evan is] one of my best friends. Even when he moved to Colorado in 7th grade we played Xbox every day.”

Before the big game Galley says, “It’s the last game of the home season. I expect to get a big win.”

Swanson describes being particularly proud of this year regarding both the team and their record. He says “Last year’s team, nobody talked to each other. This year everyone talks to each other, everyone’s friends.”

Before the game began, players were given a spotlight at center court with their families. 

Jackie Swanson, Jackson’s mother, says that he has been playing Basketball since early elementary school. She says “he’s really come a long way in working hard and trying to get better at basketball.”  

Jackson Swanson makes it clear that after this year he no longer plans on continuing his basketball career. His mother says “I love to watch him play basketball. It’s bittersweet, but I’m excited for him to do new things in the future.” 

“He’s played with a lot of these [teammates] for a long time. You see them as little kids and now they look like men. I’m excited for them to grow up but then it’s sad, it’s almost over.”

Chad Galley, Evan Galley’s father, along with the rest of the family, attended the game. According to his father, this year officially marks a decade of playing basketball for Evan. 

“It’s fantastic [to see him on Senior Night]. I had the chance to coach him through the city league. You always see him smile while playing the sport.”

“There’s only two seniors on this team this year, so they have to be an example. His leadership has progressed this year,” says Chad Galley.

Many of the players agree that the team has done a great job this year. Landon Guenter, ‘27, is one of the only two Freshmen on Varsity. He has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember, and a big part of that has been with Galley and Swanson.

“I met Evan when I moved onto his street in elementary school. Jackson would always come over, so I would always hang out and play basketball with them.”

Before the game, Guenter says “We’re out there playing for them and giving them our all, because of what they’ve done for the program and what they gave us.”

Malakai DeRose, ‘26, is one of the star Sophomores on Varsity basketball. He says “they definitely showed their leadership and led by example, like making sure we’re learning right at practice.”

He says “next year is gonna be rough, they’re both big parts of the team.”

Elijah Casas, ‘25, another Varsity member, says, “They’re really important to the team. Jackson provides personality and fun, and Evan’s a really good player. They’re good people.”

The 5 starters of this special game were of course Galley and Swanson along with, Cole Gilcrest, ‘25, Christian Carlos, ‘25, and Casas. 

At the start of the game, the Rangers lost the tip-off and maintained a strong defense for the first 2 minutes and 30 seconds of the game.

Unfortunately, the first layup of the game was made by number 1, Israel Briggs, of the opposing team. Mt. Whitney was then able to score an additional 7 points.

The flow of the game quickly changed when Zander Jensen, ‘27, was able to score a 3-pointer from mid-court. Then immediately Evan Galley was able to score a layup quickly after, making the score 5-8.

Adrian Huerta, number 2 of the opposing team, scores 3 against the Rangers. Quickly recovering, Galley was able to retrieve a failed rebound and scored 2 points for the Rangers. 

Zander Jensen then again picks up another 3-pointer bringing the Rangers to 10-11.

Cole Gilcrest was able to score two points gaining the lead for the team at the end of the first quarter making the score 12-11.

At the start of the second quarter, the Rangers took control of the court.

Briggs failed a layup and Gilcrest picked off the rebound regaining control of the ball. 

Gilcrest then scored 3 points. Shortly after Evan Galley picks up another two points after a layup. 

At 5 minutes and 40 seconds, the Pioneers take a time out with a score of 17-11 in favor of the Rangers.  Evan Galley once again scores a layup for the team.

Briggs, on the Pioneers, was able to achieve a 3-pointer for their team.

This led to an intense flow for the Pioneers as they were able to score another 6 points. Isaac Esquivel countered by retrieving a layup regaining the lead at 21-20.

Without a doubt, the Mt. Whitney team is a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately for them, the Rangers proved unstoppable. 

The second quarter then ended with the Rangers maintaining the lead by a single point. At halftime, the Ranger Varsity cheerleaders then celebrated their Senior night.

The starters of the third quarter were once again Galley, Swanson, Gilcrest, Carlos, and Casas. After an intense series of trade-offs, the Pioneers and Rangers stood neck and neck at 23-23.

For 3 minutes they stayed at that standstill until Casas scored a layup restoring the lead. 

Zander Jensen then picks up 2 points making the score 28-25. With a stroke of skill, Casas was able to score a 3-pointer at halfcourt.

That ended the third quarter with a six-point lead for the Rangers of 31-25. At the start of the last quarter, there was another series of trades creating a temporary tie at 33-33.

Zander Jensen received a foul giving the Pioneers one penalty point allowing the Pioneers to take a lead. This does not matter to Isaac Esquivel who then makes a 3-pointer reclaiming the lead at 36-33.

Cole Gilcrest then scores another 2 points, while the entirety of the basketball team and supporters cheer “Let’s go rangers.”

He then received another penalty point after a Pioneer fouled him making the score 39-34.

Galley then builds off of this momentum by scoring another two points for the Rangers. 

Galley picks up a foul for the first time of the night but then displays great sportsmanship by apologizing to the rival player with a smile on his face. 

After many fouls against the Rangers, the Pioneers received penalty points making the score 42-36.

At one minute on the clock, Evan Galley then scored another 2 points showing that he was not yet done with Senior night. 

After an intense moment, a fight almost breaks out between Galley and Briggs, after Briggs had an aggressive foul against Galley. Coach Black gives a speech during a timeout saying “We’re winning this game. And they’re going home.”

Galley then takes both penalty points for the team. The game then ends at 49-39 with the ball in Swanson’s hands. A major victory for the Rangers. 

The team then participated in a tradition of cutting off the nets after the last home game of the season. 

Swanson says “That was a good game, but it shouldn’t have been that close at all.”

Galley then adds “We pulled it together.”

As they prepare to start their college journeys, they set new goals for themselves. 

Swanson plans on traveling Europe, seeing what the world has to offer. Galley plans to attend UCLA where he will then study to be a Cardiologist.

Wherever they go, success will follow them. After all, no matter where life takes them they will always be Redwood Rangers. 

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