Seniors Savor Every Moment

For most of the players on Palisades High’s girls basketball team, last Wednesday’s Western League finale was just another routine victory. For Rita Herbstman, Bianca King and Ariana Haghani, however, Senior Night symbolized the end of a fulfilling journey that began four years earlier.

“This is one of the best senior groups I’ve had,” head coach Torino Johnson said. “The year they tried out we had like 20 freshmen and I told those three they’d be the only ones left in the program by the time they were seniors. I’m pretty good at seeing who’s going to last and who’s not.”

Johnson was right and the Dolphins’ 81-43 rout of visiting LACES marked the last regular season home game of their careers — a fact all three were all   too aware of before tip-off.

“I can remember signing posters for our seniors when I was a ninth-grader,” said Haghani, who served two years as JV captain with Herbstman before moving up to varsity this winter. “Eight freshman made it and we’re the only three left. I’m proud of that.”

What makes the trio’s friendship so tight is that they started together on the same team at Paul Revere Middle School in 2011 along with current teammate Hydeia Duronslet and former Dolphin Sadie Artest, daughter of Pali High assistant coach Metta World Peace.

“We’re very close and the past couple weeks especially we’ve done a lot of bonding,” said Herbstman, who contributed eight points in the victory over the Unicorns. “It’s finally hitting us that there’s not much time left and we want to make the most of it.”

Haghani, who scored six points against LACES, attended Turning Point in Culver City through sixth grade. Herbstman matriculated from Westwood Charter along with current teammate Caytlnn Gorden and Monroe Gorden, a senior captain on the varsity boys team. King grew up near The Forum  in Inglewood and went to K. Anthony Elementary School.

Unlike her fellow seniors, King has spent all four years on varsity, yet she saved perhaps her best game  for last, finishing with 29 points, 27 rebounds, nine blocks, four assists and three steals against LACES.

“Every day in practice we’ve really worked,” King said. “We’ve improved our stamina and different moves. I’m going to miss playing with them.”