These are Photos from Photographer Paul Firenzi

I bought these from a professional photography who was at the game last Saturday when Santa Cruz High beat St. Francis for 1st place in the league tournament

Tonight will be the start of the CCS (Central Coast Section) Tournament, next Friday is the final. The teams placing 1st and 2nd there go to the Northern California Championships.

Foggy~Rainy in Santa Cruz, California

One morning walk to East Cliff Drive.

A surfer took a while down there, wondering whether he could make it past the boulders. All of us watching wondered too. It looked NOT doable and sure enough he finally gave up

And my Taka~Man!

At the end of the last game~last 2/20 2010

Zen~ being interviewed

Uncle Lynn and Grandmom had a GRAND time! Zen's GREAT Grandmom~had a GREAT time!

Next game, this Saturday for CCS

Next game, 2/27 Saturday in Salinas. Uncle Lynn and Grandmom will go too!

The tournament for CCS, California~ Object: to keep winning to get to keep playing!

Santa Cruz High WINS the FINAL!

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/ci_14443571

AND Zen scored 19 of the 40 points for the game!

Photos from Jan St. Vincent 1/2010

Below, please also check out the audience. There's Nahshon, Joseph's younger brother standing in the stands, the other's expressions are great too!

This photo below is one of my favorites. You guys know I love photography, right?!

This game which Uncle Lynn and Grandmom came to was televised. Grandmom had a great time and talked so much about it afterwards! (Yes SCHigh won, which added to the joy!)

Zen's ball work 2010

  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiEATHJc1iw&feature=relmfu

Valentine's California

From Zen!

Aren't I one of the most fortunate Moms!!!

Yep, we celebrated American style.

But I heard about my daughters making chocolates in Japan, my girls, Japanese style!

Zen's friends, Kitabayashi Brothers!!! Came from Japan and to see Zen play

Out on the S.C. Wharf

Had to turn them onto clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl.

Pergolessi Cafe, cool coffee shop, then down the block took them to The Baglery to get a lox and veggie bagel for the road.

Akira, on the left, played on the VSOG team in japan, how many years ago? When Zen was a Jr. High student. Akira is 26 now? And his younger brother on the right.

Youtube and the last minute and a half of the game last night!

The last game for the season before the tournament from next week~

Santa Cruz High finished 10 and 2 this year (compared to 5 and 7 last year with different Coaching)        SCHigh Senior night 2/10/10.AVI

The news in the paper this morning~ read the comments too! THEY are pretty all-round all over the place!!

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/ci_14379379

Local roundup: Santa Cruz boys hit century mark in rout of Scotts Valley - Sentinel staff report Posted:   02/11/2010 01:30:03 AM PST The Santa Cruz High boys basketball team ended the regular season on a high note as 13 Cardinals scored in a 103-39 romp over visiting Scotts Valley in the teams' Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League game. Taylor Kientzel scored a game-high 24 points for the Cardinals, who as a team made eight 3-pointers and had a season-high 30 steals on the night. Jalen Porter accounted for seven of those steals and collected 15 points and five rebounds. Ian Hoppis grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds to go with nine points.

Zen at basketball 1/2010

Zen's team with Santa Cruz High is awesome this year. The Head Coach is new, and a great number of assistants are working with the team.

The team is called The Cardinals.

And while I was away in Japan the beginning of January,

...after these photos were taken...

...in a practice one evening, on January 6th...

Zen had an accident. A ball was thrown straight into his right thumb, & from what I heard, the players around him also heard the crack. It was fractured. The dr. said he'd be out for at least 3 weeks.

Zen kept going to practices and worked on his left hand skills. From the bench Zen could be there for the team. (He was there with the white t-shirt on)

The team has been strong and only lost twice to one particular undefeated team.

But now, as of January 29th, three weeks and a day since the accident,

Zen's back in and playing. The first night back was a game on Friday the 29th. The team did win.

The next day one Assistant Coach wrote:  Coaches note: Zen looked incredible last night. Confidence is not in question that's for sure. Felt like he got unleashed!

Tonight, February 3rd, is another big game. Here's to hoping my father's basketball loving spirit continues to watch over the grandson he never got to see in action while he was alive. Tonight my father's mother, Zen's Great Grandmom who's 90, will also attend the game with us. We're giving thanks!

[photos by Pam Iriguchi, thank you Pam]