CAREER TECH MAKES SCHOOL HISTORY WITH FIRST EVER GAME

By Charlotte Oh

Career Tech High Academy Charter School made history with the debut of their very first boys high school basketball team since their founding in 2019. Despite a tough 88-24 loss to the Tiyan Titans to open the 2025 season, this night will be unforgettable for the players and coaches of Career Tech High. 

Career Tech’s senior captain Alex Jorlang kicked off the game strong, hitting two three-pointers in the first half. He totaled at six points for the game, making him one of the lead scorers for the Siheks (Career Tech’s mascot, which is a Guam Kingfisher bird). Reflecting on his first game, Jorlang shared, “It was pretty nervous as the start, but as soon as we get through this practice… we’ll get there and make history more.” 

Throughout the game, the Titans were able to display their experience and skills, forcing numerous errant passes and turnovers on the new team. With better passing, shooting, and defense, Tiyan dominated the entire game with ease. Jessejoe Taijeron led the Titans with 19 points while Alfred De Chavez chipped in 15 points. 

However, the Siheks started to find a rhythm towards the end of the game, scoring 15 out of their 24 points in the fourth quarter. Seeming to finally get the nerves out of the way, the players showcased more of their full potential. Lito Santos contributed all six of his points in the fourth quarter, tying with Jorlang as the top scorer. 

Makson Santier, a senior at Career Tech, discussed what they plan to improve on moving forward. “I think we need to work on teamwork and communication. Work together as a team so we can succeed.” 

Their first-time coach, Bret Starr, also reflects on their very first game saying, “We got to get back to basics. I think we got to get to the fundamentals of our game. Back to just the simple things that we weren’t able to accomplish tonight.” 

Despite the loss, Coach Starr is grateful and feels blessed to be playing in this league. He keeps his hopes high for the Siheks sharing, “We’re still working to find what we need to do to get through the season. Everyday is a new challenge and our hope is that we can learn from tonight and learn from some of the mistakes we made moving toward the end of the season.”

Let us cheer on Career Tech’s brand new basketball team as they continue practicing and competing throughout the season. Their players are by no means discouraged and will continue putting in the effort to improve. As their captain Jorlang says, “Hard work pays off.”

OPENING NIGHT GAMES

Notre Dame 61, Southern 60

JFK 74, St. John’s 45

Sanchez 74, Guam High 35