The 2025-2026 season began with a looming question: Could a program defined by a decade of success survive a major coaching change? Tim Tucker, who previously served as assistant coach to the boys team and athletic director, took on Firehawks’ leadership with a defensive-first approach as head coach, and by mid-December of the season, the Firehawks found themselves with an 8-7 win-loss record.
“Some of our losses have clearly hurt us, but some of them may [have] helped us understand what we need to do so that we won’t feel that pain again,” Coach Tucker said.
The team responded to the pressure with determination, as early setbacks became a catalyst for a nine-game win streak heading into the playoffs, and led the Firehawks to win the Mulholland League undefeated (4-0).
One of the biggest changes for the team has less to do with the box scores than with their organizational structure. This season, Coach Tucker has implemented something he calls “servant leadership”: the seniors — including the co-captains — who have the most experience and game time on the court, are responsible for doing the majority of the “grunt” work — handling equipment, for example. This is typically the responsibility of freshmen, sophomores, or managers.
This approach builds a new kind of team culture and sends the message that no single player is bigger than the program.
“It’s all about serving each other and bringing [the] guys along with us,” Coach Tucker said.
The next step was the playoffs, which sparked elite competition. The Firehawks’ first opponents, Capistrano Valley Christian High School, were leading by 10 points with only a few minutes left when Captain Yakov Liberman scored seven straight points, battling them to overtime before Shalhevet’s team triumphed.
“It was a do-or-die moment, seeing potentially the final minutes of my CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) career come to an end,” Yakov said. “I knew I had to give it everything I had.”
The next two games were won by a combined margin of just two points. The Firehawks defeated Palm Springs 42-41 in a defensive battle, marked by senior Sam Jacobson’s go-ahead basket to win the game.
“I keep my composure by trusting the work I’ve put in and reminding myself that pressure is a privilege,” Sam said. “In those moments, I slow everything down, control my breathing, and focus only on the next play instead of the outcome.”
The next game took place in Long Beach, where the team defeated Jordan High School 46-45 in the quarterfinals, a game that was won at the last second with Ben Jacobson’s walk-off shot, clinching Shalhevet’s spot in the state bracket.
“In that final second, everything just went quiet,” Ben said. “I didn’t even think about the score; I just trusted my teammates and the thousands of reps we’ve done together. Seeing that ball go through and knowing we were headed to the state bracket, that’s a feeling I’ll never forget.”
Coach Tucker said that for moments like these, preparation is key.
“It’s about the little things,” said Coach Tucker. “The way you do one thing is the way you do everything.” An example is coming to practice early — “not a minute before, but at least 15 minutes before,” he said.
The Firehawks lost to Colony High School of Ontario (CHS) in the semifinals 57-47, but were already slotted into the first round of the state bracket, and played Rancho Bernardo High School at home on March 3, winning 56-42. On March 5, Firehawks took down Gahr High School, the number-one-ranked team in the CIF Division Three state bracket, 50-37. Ultimately, their run at the CIF State Tournament ended on March 7, as they lost in a rematch against CHS by one basket (48-45) off a game-winning deep three-pointer made right before the buzzer.
Despite this loss, there are more games left to play: the team travels to New York to compete in the annual Red Sarachek Basketball Tournament Mar. 18-23, aiming for a championship with the same core principles that drove them this season.
“Right now, the most important thing is having a really, really good next practice,” Coach Tucker said. “Everything matters, every drill, every moment, everything that’s asked of them. And if we can execute those things, we trust that the result will come.”
