On the night of Friday, February 13, at 7:00pm, Irvington bore witness to one of the most high-energy basketball games in the school’s history. Bleachers were filled to the brim with excited students and parents. IHS Cheer further carried this energy with their dynamic choreography and well-timed chants. The night was filled with roars at every layup and cheers at every shot. Fittingly, this was senior night — the varsity team’s, and many of its seniors’, last game of the season.
The match started off just as intense as when it ended. In this game against Washington High, things were significantly different from their previous encounter. “The last time we played this team, we lost by 15 or 20 points,” said forward Christian Salamone (11), “But tonight showed that we can compete if we all play hard.”
The team’s play reflected this. As opposed to the twenty-point difference, this game had both teams neck and neck down to the last second. A turnover from the Vikings ultimately allowed Washington to narrowly clinch the win by one point, making the final score 55–54. “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t pull through because it was a really close game,” said co-captain and senior Aaditya Penmetsa (12). “But compared to the last time we played them, we’ve improved a lot. I’m happy with how we performed as a team.”
Despite the loss, Viking energy never wavered, even from the bench. “I don’t think we’ve had a game this energetic all year,” said Salamone. “Everyone on the bench was engaged — every time a shot went up, we stood up and celebrated.”
This final game on senior night was a culmination of multiple lessons learned by players and coaches alike throughout the season. While the Vikings initially set their sights on making the NCS playoffs, the ultimate goal was to, as Head Coach RayJay Peralta put it, build a winning culture. “When I say winning, I don’t just mean on the scoreboard. I mean teaching these guys how to be winners on and off the court,” clarified Coach Peralta, “So when they graduate, they leave as winners in life.”
As such, Peralta makes it clear that this season, more than the numerical results, are the philosophies in life that he hopes the players take away from the season. And he is confident they have. “We have five simple rules, and they’re all the same: don’t be a butt-head (to put it family-friendly). That applies on and off the court,” said Coach Peralta, “These guys have grown not only as players but as valuable members of this community.”

Some players also reflect on the impact of Irvington basketball beyond the court. Salamone recounts his development as a person, “I’ve grown a lot of confidence. At the start of the season, I was nervous about talking to my teammates and communicating on the court.” As the season went on, however, he had become “more vocal and more confident speaking up.”

For the senior players, however, the final buzzer carried a different weight from the rest.
“It didn’t really hit me that it was over until everyone rushed onto the court telling me, ‘It’s done, it’s over,’” recalled Penmetsa, “It hurts knowing I won’t get to play again, especially with teammates I’ve been friends with for years.”

But while this game marks the end of the seniors’ journeys, the foundation has been laid for their legacy to reflect in future generations of Irvington basketball. Because for many years, that wasn’t the case — past the Fremont Unified School District, not many more teams had known of the Irvington name.
As such, this season became a learning point for even the new head coach himself. “A lot of people write this place off because of its history or location, but I saw an opportunity to shine a light on these young men and this community,” explained Peralta, “We’re trying to put this program on the map, and I believe we’ve set the foundation to do that — not just as coaches, but as players too.”