The last time the Los Gatos High School girls basketball team lost a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division game—Jan. 28, 2022—Wildcats coach Sara Quilici Giles only had one kid.
Now a proud mom of two children, Giles briefly reflected on the team’s uber-impressive 40-game league winning streak.
“As you’re going through it in the first year or two, you almost don’t want to talk about it,” Giles said. “But by the third year, we’re talking about it, really understanding how special it is and how this might be one of the high points in life for all of us. It’s something the kids will look back upon and recognize how unique, special and how crazy it was. It definitely takes skill and talent, an extreme amount of hard work and a little bit of luck. We didn’t get the injury bug or have sickness wipe out the whole team during a run of games. It’s been incredible.”
The Wildcats entered the week 2-0, having posted convincing wins over Saratoga and Branham. Due to the high volume of tournaments and teams wanting to get in as many games as possible before league play begins in January, December is the busiest month on the prep basketball calendar.
The three-time defending De Anza Division champion Wildcats have five non-league contests this month before being guaranteed at least three games in the Willow Glen Tournament from Dec. 27-29. After a short break, the Wildcats play their De Anza Division opener on Jan. 3 at home against Mountain View.
Even though the program is on a 40-game league winning streak, Giles takes the same approach every year, regardless of the roster.
“I always tell the kids on the team and the parents, ‘Listen, I’m not here to win basketball games at all costs,’” she said. “I care about the girls fighting through adversity and becoming strong people in life. I’m here to help your daughters get through hard things. As a coach, loving my players is using basketball to help them to be strong and functional people after they graduate from high school. If winning basketball games comes along with that, it’s a bonus. As I say that, it’s crazy to think we haven’t lost a league game in three years.”
Now in her eighth season as the Los Gatos coach, Giles will rely on a bevy of guards to fuel the team’s success this year. Gone are Ashley Childers and Nicole Steiner, two stalwarts who are now playing at the Division I level and the reason why Los Gatos was one of the tallest teams in the Central Coast Section the last several years.
“It’s definitely a new era,” Giles said. “I miss Ashley and Nicole as basketball players, but I really miss them as people. I feel that’s where the biggest hole is. Having said that, we have many returners who are capable, players who have also been with me all four years of their careers. We are not big, but we are fast and we are guard heavy. It’s been really fun for me to watch and see how we’re going to play this year. There’s something really special here.”
In the Wildcats’ season-opening 52-29 win over Saratoga on Nov. 29, the nine players who suited up all scored—though none in double digits.
“It was the most balanced scoring game I’ve ever coached,” Giles said. “I walked into the team room after the game and told the girls we’re trying to find out what our team identity is and this is it—team! We’re passing up good shots for great shots and we’re flowing as an offense right now. It felt really special to solidify our identity—we’re a balanced team. We’re not going to have that player who’s going to score 30 in a given game, but we are going to have six, seven, eight players make an impact.”
Los Gatos followed up the Saratoga game with a 52-32 victory over Branham. Senior post Hanna Behnami erupted for a career-high 24 points, a performance that was literally years in the making.
Behnami played sparingly as a freshman and sophomore before an injury derailed the first half of her junior season. Amid the adversity, Behnami continued to train for a moment like the Branham game. Here was a player who guarded Steiner every single day in practice—sometimes getting pushed around like a rag doll in the process—but stayed diligent in her preparation.
“Hanna had never scored double-digits in a game before, so it was awesome to see her go for 24 because she’s been working so hard for years,” Giles said. “She was playing in the flow and it was so nice to see. Whether you’re playing the entire game or not playing at all, when you’re on the varsity, you still have to practice, you still have to show up, you still have to get yelled at. It’s special to see how much she’s grown.”
Behnami along with fellow seniors Lola Cuevas and Rita Zhou have been in the program all four years, developing on and off the court.
“The evolution of a player from freshman to senior year is one of the more incredible things to witness in my mind,” Giles said. “You see the evolution of players who have been supporting players now stepping into their own groove. They’re confident and encouraging their teammates, and I’m so proud of where they’re at and what they’re going to do.”
Cuevas is the lone returning starter off last year’s team. The senior point guard brings an array of intangibles and controls the tempo of a game as well as anyone in the SCVAL.
“The way she goes is the way we go,” Giles said. “She’s a really great leader, holds teammates accountable and is like a second coach out on the court. We’re kind of frantic when she’s not on the court because she’s great at getting everyone focused.”
Cuevas plays alongside sophomore guard Jenna Webb, and the two complement each other well even though they’re both excellent at the point.
“It’s great to see them go back and forth and flow based on who has the ball and who is on the wing,” Giles said. “Jenna is also a really good scorer with great footwork.”
Zhou has come into her own as a vocal leader while providing scoring opportunities for herself and teammates.
“Rita is good at slashing through defenses and getting everyone involved,” Giles said. “She’s a great on the ball defender and it’s been awesome to see her progression. She’s always getting ready and mentally prepared to bring the energy.”
Giles is excited for junior guard Sophie Riese, who only suited up for two league games last season due to injury.
“Sophie is one of the fastest players I’ve ever seen and probably the hardest working player on the team,” Giles said. “She gets every single, second, third, fourth and fifth effort, and it’s contagious.”
Giles expects contributions from sophomores Kate Langner and Taylor Payne along with junior Kendall Feichtmeir.
“Kate is just a freak of nature athlete,” Giles said. “She’s really improved her footwork and basketball IQ. Kendall and Taylor were JV players last year who were brought up to the varsity for the playoffs. This year, we expect them to do more things on the court. Both are working really hard to improve their basketball IQ, and they’re coming along nicely.”
