Jesuit Basketball Seniors Ready for Final Home Game of Regular Season

's five senior varsity basketball players say they are facing mixed emotions heading into tonight's game against Pleasant Grove in what they hope won't be the last time they play before a home crowd this season.

The Marauders bring an 18-8 record (5-4 in Delta River League play) into tonight's Senior Night game at 7 p.m. at Fr. Barry Gymnasium. The Eagles from the Elk Grove school come in with a 17-8 record (5-4).

Second place in the league behind Sheldon is up for grabs tonight, Jesuit head coach Greg Harcos said, adding that, with a win, his team can all but guarantee themselves a home game when the Sac Joaquin playoffs begin next week.

The five Jesuit seniors- guards Alex DiManno and Chris Long and forwards Phil Edwards, Rhys Hoskins and Gary Melvin - say they are preparing for the game as much as for any other game but don't want it to be the last time before a majority of Big Red fans.

"We're just taking it as another game," Hoskins said. "We know it could be emotional after the game because it could be the last time before a home crowd."

The Eagles beat Jesuit 64-58 when the two teams last played Jan. 21 at Pleasant Grove but tonight the Marauders have the home court advantage and Harcos said he likes his team's chances.

"I'm very confident where we are now; we went through a funk with injuries to key players," he said. "Hopefully we're peaking at the right time."

However the Marauders fare going forward, it's near the end of the road for the seniors, a couple of whom have been on the varsity squad for three years.

"The best memories are when the team's all in sync, playing hard and we get easy wins," said Melvin, who along with Hoskins joined the varsity squad as a sophomore.

Others had specific memories of bonding time with teammates.

"The Gridley tournament (is a good memory) because we always have a good time," DiManno said. "This year we finished third out of, like, eight teams, the top teams in the region."

Edwards mentioned team trips to Gridley as well as Lake Tahoe for allowing the guys to relax a bit before the season picks up.

"Once the season starts, it gets more serious," he said.

Harcos has plenty of positive things to say about the seniors.

"They're a fun group to be around," he said. "(Senior Night) is one of the best nights as a coach because you're recognizing the seniors."

"They're leaders on the campus," Harcos added. "They're going to be missed."

The seniors have a diverse set of post-Jesuit graduation plans:

-Long said he plans to study biology in college and his top schools are Georgetown, Duke and the University of California, Los Angeles.

-DiManno plans to attend Santa Barbara City College, where he hopes to make the basketball team.

-Hoskins . He will study economics.

-Melvin said he wants to play basketball in college, possibly at Sac State.

-Edwards wants to study pre-law and ultimately become a judge. His top choice is San Diego State University. He said he has been accepted at Sac State and California State University, East Bay and has applied to Gonzaga, St. Mary's, CSU system schools and historically black colleges.

But first comes Senior Night.

"I'm really excited because it's going to be a big crowd," Melvin said. "Senior Night's not going to be perfect unless we get a win."