The Revere basketball team seniors and coach end the season with multiple post season games, determined to make it the furthest they can.
As each senior was recognized individually, the crowd cheered and screamed for each of them at the beginning of the game against Cuyahoga Falls. Students and parents alike shared in their joy for the class of seniors who have come so far over so many years. With the season coming to its close, and the senior class of basketball players coming to terms with their leaving, it is no wonder that the crowd would be so full of energy. When the names were eventually called, the seniors were greeted with hugs and admiration from their coaches and the administration, as well as their peers from the stands.
Coach Dean Rahas especially felt that this was shaping up to be a very poignant moment for him, despite how often these nights happen, they never get any easier.
”We have a really good group of six guys, all of which I have had the opportunity to work with since 4th grade. There have been ups and there have been downs, things generally start off slow but we just won our last eight out of ten games. So we have been playing our best basketball recently,” Rahas said.
As the coach smiles and greets his way through each senior and their families, they walk off to get their picture taken by the principal. With each passing senior, it feels to Rahas as if he is handing them off to better opportunities in life, and consequently ending this chapter. The peers and family in the room are certainly celebrating that notion with their uproarious cheers and applause. With these seniors moving onto other things, they have changed as people as well. But it’s not all Rahas’ doing; he attributes their growth to many people besides himself.
”Parents are a huge factor, they are so involved in their children‘s lives, and they’re also heavily involved in the decisions that go into anything basketball related. They also stay at the student’s side from their time as a freshman in Junior Varsity to their senior year Varsity games. Besides that, all the seniors have really managed to keep themselves uplifted and supporting each other. These seniors are all really good friends and they’ve grown together,” Rahas said.
In this moment, Rahas transitions from the influence of family to the bond between the players themselves. While families have provided unwavering support, the connection between teammates has been just as vital to their success. These players have formed a tight-knit group, where each person plays a role in ensuring the team’s cohesion and growth. This support system has helped them overcome the challenges of a demanding season, and it’s clear that their unity has been one of the key factors behind their recent success. Rahas is proud not just of their basketball achievements, but of the strong relationships they’ve cultivated along the way.
“We also just in general have a really solid program here at Revere that forms really mature young adults. From the beginning to end we really do not feel any different from each other, it is a really comforting and fostering atmosphere. The way I have been able to see these kids change, persevere, and succeed in the way I have is nothing short of amazing. It’s really incredible to see year after year,” Rahas said.
The supportive, inclusive atmosphere that Revere provides has allowed these students to thrive in every sense. Rahas takes immense pride in seeing these players grow year after year, knowing that their experiences will shape them for the rest of their lives. This notion is shared by the other seniors who have been on the team for as long as Coach Rahas has said, such as Mason Aquino.
”My senior year has ended up being a really good send off to my years playing basketball. This whole year we have been eleven and two, we have kept a really good winning streak the last bunch of games we have done. Which for me personally, that is all I can really ask for. Plus winning our game against Cuyahoga Falls on our senior night was a really great confidence booster for us,” Aquino said.
For Aquino, the past year has been a perfect culmination of his basketball career. It’s not just about the victories on the court, but about the pride and confidence he’s gained from playing alongside his teammates. The team’s strong finish, particularly the win against Cuyahoga Falls on senior night, has been a highlight that Aquino will remember fondly. He attributes much of the team’s recent success to the unity they’ve built over the season. As his final year progresses, Aquino is both grateful and optimistic for the team’s potential.
”This coming Friday we have a game against Talmadge and if we win that we are going to be league champions. Which will be tough, but I have it on good faith that we will be able to win it. It is also their senior night that day so they are going to be playing about as hard as us,” Aquino said.
Aquino feels confident that the team has the strength and resilience to secure the championship, but he also knows the game will be a tough test. The camaraderie within the team gives him faith in their ability to push through any obstacles. The pressure of the moment will only drive them further.
”The team atmosphere has been the most important part to my basketball playing career. We keep our heads high, have fun, we enjoy each other’s company, and even we have a good amount of forgiveness for our mistakes. Which I think is one of the most important parts of a team atmosphere, because if you are unable to feel like you can make mistakes then what is the point?” Aquino said.
As the game against Talmadge looms, Aquino reflects on the heart of their success: the team atmosphere. For him, the most important aspect of his basketball career has been the camaraderie and mutual support shared among teammates. It’s not about perfection—it’s about learning from mistakes, supporting one another through challenges, and enjoying the game. This sense of belonging and teamwork has been a driving force behind their success, and it’s something Aquino will carry with him long after his playing days are over.
”I am going to miss it a lot, I really am. I have been captain this year so the fact that people look up to me has been a really good encouragement factor, as well as my teammates, and even just playing the sport and having a good time; it is an irreplaceable feeling. I am definitely going to miss these years of my life,” Aquino said.
Fellow senior Christian Rachad has a similar view on his end of the season. As he reflects upon all he’s accomplished throughout his basketball career during high school, he has a similar attitude to Aquino in relation to how he feels about his team.
“It’s been a really great couple of years, I’m going to miss my teammates and my place on the team. While I haven’t been captain directly, it has been great to be in a place where people still treat me like one,” Rachad said.
Rachad has also been consistently passionate about basketball ever since he started with Revere back in elementary school. The memories he’s made even beyond his years in high school have not escaped him.
“I used to think I was going to go into the NBA back in middle school, I was determined to do it, it was my dream. Now that I have become more realistic with my goals, I see basketball as something that has been more of a positive social experience that has gotten me through high school. I’m not going to do basketball in college, so I think it is time for me to move on,” Rachad said.
Revere‘s mens’ varsity basketball team had their Sectional semifinals on February 21st, and are determined to win and go beyond.
