The story of coach Michael Allen and Maranatha Excessive ladies’ basketball workforce is nothing wanting superb.
He joined this system as an assistant coach this yr to assist out a pal. When the top coach resigned two weeks earlier than the season started, he took over because the fourth head coach in 4 years.
“I’ve by no means coached in my life,” he stated.
The workforce went 0-8 in league play final season and hasn’t been to the playoffs because the 2018-19 season.
The Eaton fireplace occurred on Jan. 7 and Allen’s home was destroyed, together with that of his assistant.
“The evening I misplaced our home was a breakthrough recreation for us,” he stated. “We beat Whittier Christian for our first league win. A pair hours later, my home went down.”
Then got here a sequence of occasions that indicated somebody was trying over Maranatha. Whittier Christian misplaced a buzzer beater, forcing a play-in recreation in opposition to Maranatha to resolve third place within the Olympic League and a playoff spot. Maranatha gained the coin toss to host. Then Maranatha gained the sport in double extra time and can go to the playoffs with a 9-16 document.
“We had undoubtedly divine intervention,” stated Allen, who’s 28 and runs a enterprise that helps colleges with after-school packages.
Afterward, there was a joyous celebration, with boys’ basketball gamers, coaches, ladies’ gamers all letting free to have a good time the journey the women workforce has taken.
“Seeing it in our seniors’ eyes, you’ll be able to see how a lot this ladies’ program has been by,” Allen stated. “It was good to have a constructive consequence.”
Requested about coping with all of the households displaced within the Altadena/Pasadena space, together with his personal, whereas teaching basketball, Allen stated, “It’s been one thing to distract us. It speaks to the guts of our neighborhood. Altadena/Pasadena have among the most resilient folks. The streets are flooded with folks giving and serving to.”
On Saturday morning, Allen will wait to seek out out what workforce he must put together to play within the Southern Part ladies basketball playoffs.
A cheerful second for a workforce and coach that has gone by a lot.
It is a each day take a look at the constructive happenings in highschool sports activities. To submit any information, please e-mail eric.sondheimer@latimes.com
