Portola High Teachers “Score” Teamwork And Connection Through Basketball Group

Riya Chandan and Emma Chen

Sophomore Eli Gutierrez guards his father, Stephen Gutierrez during their morning basketball game. As the basketball group expands to include staff members from other schools, such as Gutierrez’s father, players can count on having enough members to fill the court each time they meet. “The expectation is that you are going to be there, and you can depend on those people to show up and play,” Ralston said. “There’s the consistency I can always depend on.”

Before the school day starts, faint sounds of dribbling basketballs, screeching sneakers and the spirited banter of teachers emanate from the Portola High gym. These are the sounds of the teacher basketball group that plays every Monday and Friday morning at six a.m.

Principal John Pehrson created the basketball group in 2017, with the goal of connecting colleagues through recreational play and exercise. The group consists of Portola High staff and their friends and family, as well as district staff.

“The level of play is such that no one really gets super competitive in there,” Pehrson said. “It is pretty chill, and people go to have a good time. People are not yelling at each other or taking it too seriously — it is just about having fun. Every time we play, there are opportunities to get a good laugh in when someone does something really bad.”

Although teachers make up most of the team, sophomore Eli Gutierrez began playing around a year and a half ago with his father, Stephen Gutierrez, who is a teacher at Springbrook Elementary. For a student like Guiterrez, playing alongside people who are typically teachers feels unusual, but it creates a sense of community.

“The weirdest [person] to play with is definitely Mr. Pehrson, but I’ve gotten used to it, and it’s really fun now,” Gutierrez said. “My favorite memory playing with this group was definitely me hitting a game-winning three-pointer over three defenders.”

Attendance varies in the morning, with anywhere from eight to 20 people showing up, depending on their individual schedules. Teams are picked by who makes the first free throw, with the first ten people to arrive earning the chance to play. The players are also divided by height, with taller players typically spread out across teams, according to social studies teacher Wind Ralston.

“I wish more staff members would play,” Ralston said. “We know a bit more about each other’s lives, because we have discussions before the game starts. Also, it’s the only consistent thing I’ve really done physically in the last eight years, so I look forward to it every morning.”

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About the Contributors

Riya Chandan, Staff Writer

Riya Chandan is a staff writer for her first year on the Portola Pilot. When she’s not eating Chipotle for the third time that week, she’s usually baking or walking around with her AirPods in, blasting Lizzy McAlpine. This year, she looks forward to developing her skills in writing and journalism.

Emma Chen, Staff Writer

Emma Chen is a staff writer for her first year on the Portola Pilot. She is looking forward to meet more people and experience more of the school’s culture and events, while sharing her creativity and love for writing. When she’s not procrastinating via doomscrolling, you can find her singing along to the newest song stuck in her head, genuinely getting scared by mystery books, or playing piano.

Mason Truong, Staff Writer

Mason Truong is a staff writer for his first year on the Portola Pilot. You can find him on campus in the library reading the newest fantasy book, or walking around trying to decipher the daily Wordle puzzle. Outside of school, he enjoys experimenting with new culinary recipes, riding his bike, and practicing his form at swim practice. He is so excited to start his first year as a writer on the Portola Pilot staff!