The Sports Informant

By Patrick Ibarra
Editor

Just over three years ago, Vista del Lago High School was in construction phase, buildings without a student body or sports team to boast. Now, with its first senior class ever, the school is competing for a Sac-Joaquin Section title in boys basketball, after one of the most impressive regular seasons in the state.

“We feel really good about our season so far,” senior guard Hayden Lescault said. “Our main goals were to all of our tournaments and a league title, and our next goal is to win the section title.”

Senior Spencer Hatten shoots over Oak Ridge defender Connor Benander. (Photo courtesy Greg Ashman)

Vista del Lago has done nearly all of it, with the final piece decided in tonight’s section title game at Arco Arena at 9 p.m. Standing in their way is defending Division III section champ and this year’s No. 1 seed Sacramento High.

However Friday night’s game goes, Vista del Lago has turned heads this season. At 28-2 overall thus far, the Eagles have developed a season most schools only dream about. They’ve secured a league title and are still in the hunt for the pinnacle of high school basketball: the state championship.

The Eagles’ success, though, could arguably stem from a risk a group of friends and teammates decided to take after their freshman year at a different high school.

Several players at the time attending Folsom High School, a school that won the Division I boys basketball section title last year, looked for something different at the newly-opened Vista del Lago. Together, they transferred over to the City of Folsom’s second high school before their sophomore year, the first year of the school’s existence. They wanted to build a legacy as Eagles, as a group of friends creating a core of talent at Vista del Lago.

“Hayden chose to transfer over and ever since fourth grade he and I have been like (the NBA’s Steve) Nash and (Amar’e) Stoudemire,” said senior forward Spencer Hatten, one of Vista’s stars this season. “So even though I had been playing varsity (for Folsom High) as a freshman, I had to play with my wing man.”

According to Hatten, five players made the switch and still play together now. Lescault, Hatten, Mike Young, Rushabh Shah and Marques White transferred, then matured together their sophomore and junior years at Vista del Lago, and now, in their senior season, have a shot not only at a section title, but beyond.

“We had been hoping to start a new legacy at a brand new school with only sophomores,” Hatten said, referring to their initial season at Vista, which included freshman and sophomore classes, but no juniors or seniors until their comeuppance. “I think a few of our goals have been accomplished, but we got more to take care of.”

This year’s squad has already accomplished plenty. Despite playing in the Division III playoffs, the Eagles were part of a tough Division II Sierra Valley Conference that included Oak Ridge High, who made the Division I playoffs this season. While the Trojans handed Vista del Lago its only league loss of the year, the Eagles were able to secure the league title – the school’s first, obviously – with a 43-41 win on Feb. 19.

“We have great chemistry that we have been building for a couple of years,” Lescault said. “All the guys on our team are best friends, so we all want to win for each other.”

That dynamic, friendship and loyalty within a team setting, has made the Eagles a formidable force this season. For a group of seniors who gambled on each other and a new school, the rewards could be worth the years of waiting.

“That means a lot for the school to win a league title its first year (with seniors),” Lescault said. “People will look at that and be impressed. Hopefully it sets a standard for the future and when we come back in a few years, there will be a couple more banners in the gym.”

That banner may come sooner than they think.

“Right now, our goal is to win all three games, head to Arco and play in that state championship,” Hatten said.