PALOS VERDES PENINSULA — Trailing by 33 points at halftime, coach Ernest Siy knew his Holy Family girls’ basketball team was not playing to extend its season. Perhaps that’s why he displayed a positive tone after losing, 63-23, to Chadwick in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 5-AA playoffs and ending the season with a 7-18 record.
“I wrote one word on the grease board, ‘Pride,’” Siy said of the halftime message he gave his players. “I said listen, you guys are cementing your reputation right now. How do you want to be remembered? How do you want Chadwick to perceive Holy Family? It's completely up to you guys.”
Though the final result remained lopsided in favor of the Dolphins, Holy Family came out in the third quarter with renewed determination as if the game were just tipping off. By the time the final buzzer sounded on the Gaels’ season they had allowed the lead to grow only by 10.