After two CIF finals and a semifinal, senior guard Lani Murata and Chatsworth have their eyes squarely on a championship this season. “Hopefully, it’s all about winning a ring,” she said.
Chatsworth senior captain Lani Murata has spent most of her life preparing for this moment – and she’s bringing snacks.
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU SPORTS EDITOR
In recent years, Chatsworth High in the San Fernando Valley has emerged as among the elite schools for boys’ basketball, boasting rosters that include sons of current and former NBA players.
However upper-crust they might be, the gentlemen are taking a back seat when it comes to baked goods.
“Oh my gosh, she’s the best baker EVER,” shouted junior Riah Peres about her senior co-captain, Lani Murata. “When her bakery opens, get her banana coffee cake – it’s sooo good!”
Murata, who has begun her final prep season as the skipper of the Lady Chancellors’ offense, said she submitted the first round of her college applications last week. She wants to study business and hopes to open her own bakery one day.
But make no mistake, the 17-year-old’s game on the court is every bit as sweet as the birthday cakes she likes to bake for her teammates. Talk up the boys all you like, but during Murata’s tenure, it’s the Chatsworth girls who have earned their way to two CIF finals and a semifinal.
This year, her goal is clear as ever: win a championship.
“Hopefully, it’s all about winning a ring this year,” she said. “The last few years, we’ve come up little short, but those games were all really close, so hopefully that experience and a little extra hard work will pay off this season.”
Basketball has been a keystone of Murata’s life, almost since she learned to grip a ball. She’s grown up playing on a variety of teams, mainly the SF Aloha Girls in the Japanese American Optimists youth league.
Those ties forged within the local leagues have extended into high school.
“One of the things I’m most looking forward to is playing against some of the other JA players I have known over the years,” she explained, mentioning names like Kayla Tanijiri, who is now in her frosh season at rival Birmingham High.
“She’s someone I’ve played with, so I’m kind of proud that we have both made it to this higher level,” Murata said. “We would scrimmage against each other sometimes, and I think she dropped 24 points in her game recently.”
Murata has served as a team captain since last season, and said the camaraderie is what has kept her tied to basketball over the years.
“I’ve always loved the team aspect of winning and losing … not so much losing,” she said.
Peres said Murata has been a model for herself and the younger players.
“Basically, she’s able to guide us through everything,” Peres said. “I look to her as much as anyone on the team, not only as our elite player, but she shows us great kindness and the important skills we need throughout life, on the court and off.”
Head coach Kaio Lewis said Murata has followed the example of her best friend and former Chatsworth teammate Lindsey Kadonaga, who graduated last year.
“Lindsey really taught Lani the value of calmness and peace on the court,” Lewis said.
She’s already been to two finals and a semifinal, and those mature qualities are priceless for any team.”
Both Murata and Peres agreed that a sense of self-control and cohesion is perhaps their team’s greatest intangible asset.
“If we find ourselves down or in a difficult game, we don’t move away from each other emotionally. We stay together until the end, and I love that,” Murata explained. “There are teams I’ve been on where it’s not always like that, so you learn to really appreciate a close-knit team.”
Murata’s father, Yoichi, said participating in activities like the Rising Stars youth leadership program in Little Tokyo has been a terrific influence on Lani.
“When this season is finished, we just want her to be happy, regardless of wins or losses,” he said.
While winning it all is the stated goal, Murata said she won’t forget to enjoy the journey along the way.
“If we don’t end up with the ring, I’m just hoping we are all proud of what we accomplish, especially the seniors, because we’ve worked so hard together all four years.”
Chatsworth has a spate of tournament and non-league games before beginning conference play Jan. 8 at Cleveland. They will host Tanijiri and Birmingham on Jan. 10.