As the clock wore down in the Gregori gymnasium Wednesday night and Enochs walked toward the bench with a double-digit win over the rival Jaguars and a 3-0 start in the Central California Athletic League under its belt, a celebration was in order.
But don’t expect Kila Day or the rest of the rest of the Enochs senior boys basketball players to be dancing anytime soon – all eyes are now on securing a win on Enochs’ annual winter homecoming game Friday night.
“I’ve never won a homecoming game at Enochs,” Day said about his motivation for preparing for the game. “It’s more of a reason to play harder and work harder – I don’t want to lose in front of everybody.”
Enochs (13-6, 3-0 CCAL) will host the Pitman Pride (19-2, 2-1 CCAL) on Friday inside of the Enochs gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.
With the victory over Gregori on Wednesday, the Eagles have already captured the same number of league wins that they had all of last season, and are putting themselves in prime position to secure a CIF Sac-Joaquin Division 1 playoff slot.
Enochs hasn’t had a winning league season since 2019, and has only finished with a winning overall record three times in the last decade – something that Enochs senior boys basketball players are hoping changes with a renewed confidence and a team that is focused on building chemistry and camaraderie.
“It feels like a brotherhood out there this year – a family,” said Enochs senior Kevin Rivera. “We’re so cool with each and are good friends with good team chemistry – and basketball is a game where there needs to be a lot of trust and a lot of feel and we have that this year.”
Last season the Eagles lost twice to Pitman including a 23-point blowout in Turlock on Feb. 5.
None of that history is forgotten by players like Day – who have yet to wave to a capacity crowd on homecoming night as a victor.
And while Enochs’ history as a basketball program might not generate the respect that other programs are afforded in the area, Day said that this season he doesn’t necessarily mind that.
“We’ve always been the underdog, and I kind of like being the underdog,” Day said. “We keep hearing it from people, and I want those people to keep thinking, ‘that’s just Enochs.’
“At the end of the day they’ll get to look up at the scoreboard and we’re going to be up by 10.”
Adviser Jason Campbell contributed to this report.
