The game of basketball can be beautifully simple.
“When you catch the ball, just put it in the basket, you’ll be fine,” explained Sierra Canyon junior, Rosemary Odebunmi.
- Sierra Canyon girls basketball compete for state title
- 16-year-old Rosemary Odebunmi among standout players
- From Nigeria, she originally played soccer, but took to basketball
If you think about it that way, anyone can play the game.
But few can play it as well as Rosemary and the Sierra Canyon girls basketball team.
On Saturday, the girls will head to Sacramento with a chance to bring home a state title.
In what can only be described as a unique accomplishment, the girls will be joining their male counterparts. Sierra Canyon will have two teams representing in the Open Division - largely considered the most competitive in the state.
Odebunmi may be new to the prestigious program, but head coach Alicia Komaki says she is already a force on the court.
“Rose brings a lot of fierceness," Komaki said. "She’s not afraid of anything. She’s super sweet off the court, but on the court, she just brings a lot of mental toughness.”
Odebunmi moved here from Nigeria. At just 13-years old, she left everything she knew behind in search of a new opportunity.
And she came to America for a sport that was relatively new to her. She didn't pick up a basketball until age eleven. At first she even resisted playing.
“I was like, 'Nope, I’m a soccer player. I’m not playing basketball, it’s not going to happen,'” she said with a smile.
But the game came easy and she was recruited to play in the States just a few years later. This season, however, she finally found her home with Sierra Canyon.
“I feel very blessed. It’s a great opportunity,” Odebunmi said.
Although it's a program that sometimes gets overshadowed by the extensive list of NBA legacies on its boys team, the girls program is as good as it gets. After finishing the season at 32-1, they are one win away from a State Title.
The Trailblazers will face Pinewood at Golden 1 Arena on Saturday night at 6 p.m.
When you play for a program as prestigious as Sierra Canyon, you might be spending the majority of your time on field or on the court. I’m Kristen Lago in Chatsworth where for one junior player this place as really become her home.
THE GAME OF BASKETBALL CAN BE BEAUTIFULLY SIMPLE.
“When you catch the ball, just put it in the basket, you’ll be fine.”
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY, ANYONE CAN PLAY… BUT FEW CAN PLAY AS WELL AS ROSEMARY ODEBUNMI AND THE SIERRA CANYON GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM.
ROSE MAY BE NEW TO THE PROGRAM, BUT COACH ALICIA KOMAKI SAYS SHE’S ALREADY A FORCE ON THE COURT.
“Rose brings a lot of fierceness. She’s not afraid of anything. She’s super sweet off the court, but on the court, she just brings a lot of mental toughness.”
ROSE IS FROM NIGERIA. AT JUST 13, SHE LEFT EVERYTHING SHE KNEW BEHIND - HER MOM. HER SIBLINGS. HER HOME.
“I don’t know anyone where I’m going. I don’t know what’s going to happen. It was really hard”
AND SHE CAME TO AMERICA FOR A SPORT THAT WAS PRETTY NEW TO HER. SHE DIDN’T PICK UP A BASKETBALL UNTIL AGE 11. AT FIRST WHILE IN NIGERIA, SHE RESISTED PLAYING.
“I was like nope. I’m a soccer player. I’m not playing basketball, it’s not going to happen.”
BUT AT 11-YEARS OLD AND STANDING AT ALMOST SIX FEET, THE GAME CAME EASY. SHE WAS RECRUITED TO PLAY IN THE STATES JUST TWO YEARS LATER.
AFTER TRANSFERRING TO SIERRA CANYON THIS SEASON, SHE HAS FINALLY FOUND HER HOME.
“I feel very blessed. It’s a great opportunity.”
IT’S A PROGRAM SOMETIMES OVERSHADOWED BY THE NAMES ON THE BOYS TEAM. NAMES OF NBA GREATS… BUT THESE GIRLS ARE AS GOOD AS THEY COME.
AFTER FINISHING THE SEASON, 32-1. ROSE IS EXCITED FOR WHAT’S TO COME.
“It’s amazing what we’re doing here.”
AND AS THE CLOCK WINDS DOWN ON HER FIRST YEAR HERE, ROSE AND HER TEAM HAVE A SHOT AT THE CIF STATE TITLE.
THE TRAILBLAZERS WILL FACE PINEWOOD ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
When you play for a program as prestigious as Sierra Canyon, you might be spending the majority of your time on field or on the court. I’m Kristen Lago in Chatsworth where for one junior player this place as really become her home.
THE GAME OF BASKETBALL CAN BE BEAUTIFULLY SIMPLE.
“When you catch the ball, just put it in the basket, you’ll be fine.”
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY, ANYONE CAN PLAY… BUT FEW CAN PLAY AS WELL AS ROSEMARY ODEBUNMI AND THE SIERRA CANYON GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM.
ROSE MAY BE NEW TO THE PROGRAM, BUT COACH ALICIA KOMAKI SAYS SHE’S ALREADY A FORCE ON THE COURT.
“Rose brings a lot of fierceness. She’s not afraid of anything. She’s super sweet off the court, but on the court, she just brings a lot of mental toughness.”
ROSE IS FROM NIGERIA. AT JUST 13, SHE LEFT EVERYTHING SHE KNEW BEHIND - HER MOM. HER SIBLINGS. HER HOME.
“I don’t know anyone where I’m going. I don’t know what’s going to happen. It was really hard”
AND SHE CAME TO AMERICA FOR A SPORT THAT WAS PRETTY NEW TO HER. SHE DIDN’T PICK UP A BASKETBALL UNTIL AGE 11. AT FIRST WHILE IN NIGERIA, SHE RESISTED PLAYING.
“I was like nope. I’m a soccer player. I’m not playing basketball, it’s not going to happen.”
BUT AT 11-YEARS OLD AND STANDING AT ALMOST SIX FEET, THE GAME CAME EASY. SHE WAS RECRUITED TO PLAY IN THE STATES JUST TWO YEARS LATER.
AFTER TRANSFERRING TO SIERRA CANYON THIS SEASON, SHE HAS FINALLY FOUND HER HOME.
“I feel very blessed. It’s a great opportunity.”
IT’S A PROGRAM SOMETIMES OVERSHADOWED BY THE NAMES ON THE BOYS TEAM. NAMES OF NBA GREATS… BUT THESE GIRLS ARE AS GOOD AS THEY COME.
AFTER FINISHING THE SEASON, 32-1. ROSE IS EXCITED FOR WHAT’S TO COME.
“It’s amazing what we’re doing here.”
AND AS THE CLOCK WINDS DOWN ON HER FIRST YEAR HERE, ROSE AND HER TEAM HAVE A SHOT AT THE CIF STATE TITLE.
THE TRAILBLAZERS WILL FACE PINEWOOD ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
