Sports The Chronicle • March 22, 2023
printed with permission of darlene bible
BEST IN THE WEST: OPEN DIVISION CHAMPS By Ella Yadegar and Averie Perrin Basketball Program Head David Rebibo paced up and down the court as the Wolverines trailed St. John Bosco in the third quarter March 4. Drawing up plays on his clipboard, Rebibo felt confident he could lead the team to a come-from-behind success. After the team caught up in the fourth quarter and eventually overtook their opponents, he quickly realized he had won his 300th game as a high-school basketball head coach. Rebibo said he did not focus on getting his 300th win but rather on the fact that the team had made it to the Regional California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Finals. “I was just excited that we won and were getting to the regional final,” Rebibo said. “I was proud of our guys and looking forward to getting 301. I remember a lot of very significant winning moments, but league, CIF and state championships never leave you.” After coaching at El Camino Real and the University of San Francisco, Rebibo began working at the school in 2015. He has now been coaching at the high school level for 14 years. They went on to beat Centennial High School in the California Interscholastic Federation State SoCal Regional Open Division Finals and then won the CIF Open Division State Champion-
ship against St. Joseph on March 11 for the first time in program history, making them the No. 1 team in California according to MaxPreps.com and giving Rebibo his 302nd win. Rebibo said the team’s success is because of the good dynamic that players have developed. “I’d say great chemistry, accountability and character have led to the team’s success this season,” Rebibo said. “I am proud, happy and excited for our guys. [It was] just an incredible accomplishment, and I am a very proud coach.” Unlike a number of other high school teams, the school’s team has just one transfer student. Forward Brady Dunlap ’23 did not join the school as a freshman, but moved from Hart High School in Newhall, Calif. in 2020. Dunlap said Rebibo’s coaching has made him a stronger player and person. “[Rebibo]’s very demanding,” Dunlap said. “He shoots straight, and he doesn’t sugarcoat anything, which really has helped me develop off the court as well, in terms of just being more mentally tough.” Dunlap said Rebibo knows him well enough as a player to showcase his most developed skills when on the court. “He’s improved my entire skill set, most importantly my defensive awareness and defensive schemes,” Dunlap said. “He also puts me in different good situations
on the offensive side of the ball, [so I’m] Head of Athletics Terry Barnum said just flourishing in the situations he puts Rebibo’s ability to connect to the players me in.” and school community makes him an exGuard Trent Perry ’24 said Rebibo is ceptional basketball coach. committed to the team and allows room “Coach Rebibo is an amazing coach,” for growth in their training. Barnum said. “What makes him so effec“Coach Rebibo is very passionate,” Per- tive is that he understands and embraces ry said. “He’s a hard worker, and he always the type of school that Harvard-Westlake gives his full trust to his guys.” is and connects really well with our stuPerry said Rebibo did not mention hav- dents. He also cares about the school being won his 300th game, even though it is yond his program. He is a great ambassaa big accomplishment in Rebibo’s career. dor for the Athletic Department and the “It was kind of just like another win entire school. He cares deeply about every for him, honestly,” Perry said. “That’s player in this program and does whatever what I like about him as well he can to help them reach their because he just keeps everyfull potential.” thing the same, and he never Barnum said Rebibo’s mereally boasts about anything. thodical plan to win the State He’s always very humble.” Championship made achieving Although he said Rebibo that goal possible. treated the game like any other “At the end of last season, in the season, Christian Horry Coach Rebibo and I sat down ’24 said he and his teammates and talked about what it would l. wood were motivated to achieve the take for us to win an Open DiBrady accolade for Rebibo. vision championship,” Barnum Dunlap ’23 “There was a little bit of pressaid. “He spent the entire offseasure that game because it was his 300th son building a plan to put us in position win,” Horry said. “It was also the playoffs, to win at the highest level. Winning the so we really couldn’t lose that game. It was Open Division State Championship was the game we really didn’t see ourselves the goal from the beginning, and he gave losing because we were the one seed, and his athletes the confidence to believe it was they were like the seventh or something possible. That’s the mark of a great leader.” like that. We wanted to make it special for Horry said Rebibo has helped him Rebibo, since this was a really big mark in through his injury recovery and recruiting. his coaching career, and he is such a great “Last year, when I had hurt my ankle, I coach for Harvard-Westlake.” was really going through it, just because I Perry said he was ecstatic about win- was thinking ‘I’m really missing the playning CIF State because of all of the hard offs,’” Horry said. “It was kind of the first work he and his teammates put in during time I saw him as not just my coach but the season. someone I could reach out to if I needed “I was actually so happy,” Perry said. help with anything. He was very support“I thought I was gonna cry tears of joy. ive about it. With recruiting he’s always It was a very special moment just because talking about how he can reach out to colwe went through a lot. I’m just glad I got leges for me and for clubs and just whatevto get my best friends, the seniors and a er I need from him. He’s just been a really championship in the end.” supportive and helpful person.”