Moments after Grace Smith made a long 3-pointer from the left wing just before the halftime buzzer, Live Oak High girls basketball coach Mike Kiefer jumped up before pumping his fist. The longtime Acorns coach was so excited his right hand nearly hit the floor. Kiefer had good reason to be jubilant, as Live Oak would take a two-point lead into the intermission against host and No. 2 seed Aptos.
However, the Mariners’ superior height and length took over in the second half, preventing Live Oak from continuing a season that was by all accounts memorable and successful. The No. 10 seed Acorns lost 66-54 last Saturday in a Central Coast Section Division III playoff quarterfinal.
“We gave it a hard fight for four quarters,” said Kiefer, who completed his ninth season as the Live Oak coach. “That’s all you can ask for, and they’ve done that all season long.”
Smith had a team-high 21 points and Cameron O’connell had 11 points for the Acorns, who finished a 21-6 campaign that included winning the Blossom Valley League’s Santa Teresa East Division championship. According to Kiefer, Smith and O’connell will go down as two of the greatest leaders in program history.
“They will go down in history as the winningest duo to play four years of varsity basketball I believe,” Kiefer said. “They are two of the best leaders I’ve ever been around. The bond and sisterhood the team had was because of the example they set. Their personalities are so infectious, and I will truly, truly miss them.”
Smith, who earned the BVAL’s Santa Teresa East Division Co-MVP award, played an all-around game and helped her teammates play at a higher level. She was an extension of Kiefer on the court, often directing her teammates offensively.
“Grace is an amazing player,” Kiefer said. “What she does on the floor says it all. She’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever had a privilege to coach.”
Kiefer was also effusive in his praise for O’connell, who earned First Team All League honors.
“Cameron is like a little firecracker,” he said. “She was an amazing player who did it on both ends of the court.”
Live Oak was facing a huge height disadvantage against Aptos, which had at least a 4 to 5 inch height advantage at nearly every position. However, that’s made the Acorns’ performance all the more impressive. Marisa Chu, a 5-foot-2 senior, always provided inspiring play.
“Marisa has had a rough ride the last three years and was able to provide some amazing minutes in critical situations,” Kiefer said. “She’s probably sacrificed her body the most, and that is what her teammates like about her, is how much she leaves on the floor every night.”
Jennifer Poonia, a 5-8 senior forward, also played a vital role in the team’s success.
“We wouldn’t be here without her,” Kiefer said. “She’s been a strong rebounder and blocked shots at critical times in the last few games.”
Kiefer noted Smith, O’connell, Chu and Poonia have left a lasting mark on the program, which despite graduating the quartet will have a solid nucleus coming back next season, led by Adrianne Gomez and Raegan Kirk, who had a terrific freshman season. Kirk started 27 games, the most ever by a freshman since Kiefer has been the coach.
“She plays both ends of the court, is long, lanky, and continues to grow and has become better and better,” said Kiefer, who also noted Gomez earned First Team All Division honors.
The Acorns will also return post Anabela Stewart, who provides the team with some height and physical play inside. With Stewart, Gomez and Kirk returning, along with some expected newcomers who should make an impact, Kiefer sees no reason why the team can’t return to the playoffs and make another solid run.
One thing is for certain: In order for that to happen, the team must have the camaraderie that this year’s squad displayed.
“What I’ll remember most about the team is their bond,” Kiefer said. “(As a coaching staff) we preach bond, sisterhood and togetherness all season, and this team took it to another level. Stuff that happened on the court was great, but I’ll remember the practices, them sitting around and being goofy like the young teenage girls they are. I’ll miss them talking about game days and going out to breakfast or doing things together on the weekend. Those are the things that I’ll remember.”
Live Oak also proved to be proficient in the classroom, compiling a team 3.769 GPA, good for third best out of 125 programs in the section. Now that’s getting things done on and off the court.
