Titans Girls Basketball Slam Dunks the Idea of Family

Spending countless hours together both on and off the basketball court leaves a lot of room for teammates to start thinking of each other as family. That's how Grand Terrace High School's (GTHS) girls basketball program has come to see each other - and when each of the three basketball teams pulled together to donate gifts for the holiday season to the families of two varsity teammates, it was evident the girls looked at each other as more than just fellow basketball players. Varsity players Ashtyn Bray and Julia Lewis were struggling with difficulties; Bray, a junior, had lost her mother in October to heart complications after a June 2013 heart transplant, while Lewis, a sophomore, had a 10-year-old stepsister, Kaitlyn, who was battling leukemia. Senior varsity captain Sabrina Castorena, learning of Bray's recent loss and having been close with the Lewis family for many years - father Jim Lewis had coached Castorena since her time in recreational basketball, wanted to show the girls how much they meant to the team. She came to varsity head coach Johnny Vasquez with the idea to hold a toy drive and donate gifts to the two families for Christmas. "He said, 'Go ahead, senior. Take charge,'" Castorena said. She brought her idea then to senior teammates Raja Woods and Diamond Guillen and the three began planning. "Since I'm older, I know how much (Christmas) means to little kids. I talked to the seniors, the leaders of this team, and we decided it was a good idea." The seniors brought the junior varsity and freshman girls basketball teams in on the plan, too, making sure everyone promised to keep the donation a surprise to both Bray and Lewis. The three teams were responsible for collecting and donating an equal amount of toys to each child in the family - Bray has two younger siblings: sister McKenna, 11, and brother Michael Jr., 7; and Lewis's stepsister Kaitlyn. The teams also purchased gifts to give to their teammates Ashtyn and Julia. "It was very beautiful," said Michael Bray, Ashtyn's father. His children received dolls and other toys. "It really shocked me. It was [so] nice." The holiday donation was followed by a playful scrimmage game and a program Christmas party - with a little Christmas tree, too. "Everyone loved the looks on the kids' faces when they opened their gifts. It was touching moment and we all were open arms with hugs," Castorena said. "That day our team was closer than ever." "This is one of the closest-knit teams I have seen at the school yet," said Jay Strowger, who photographs the team. "It did not surprise me that Sabrina put this all together. We have known her for a few years now and she is a very caring person and she cares so much for all the girls on the team." "This was awesome. It shows that it's not just about basketball, but it's about building an experience of giving back," said varsity head coach Johnny Vasquez. "To have these girls think about their teammates in need was a special moment for this program." Castorena, humble as ever, insisted it wouldn't have happened without the cooperation of the program as a whole. "I did this for these kids because I can't imagine what they're going through. They needed to know they have nothing to worry about with friends and family. I'm really proud of my team for doing all this; I know they feel just as proud of themselves as I do."