Mack in Shock and in Mourning After Two Students Die

by Dakila Grayson

It was first announced all over Facebook.  RIP’s and pictures flooded the newsfeed.  McClymonds was mourning the sudden death of very well liked “cool-ass” Charles Hill.

Charles was on his way home from a party in East Oakland, when someone tried to rob him of his i-Pad, a gun was fired and he was shot in the head, students reported.

The other Mack student, Ranzeil Geegan, was in juvenile hall, when he had a seizure that nobody noticed, and died.

“All this shouldn’t happen,” said Davonte Braud, 15, “We are losing too many people of our age.  He was my homie.”

Former classmates reported that Hill was coming home from a party with his friends when an individual approached him and attempted to steal his iPad.  He was shot in the head.

A candlelight vigil was held Saturday night, the day after his death.

A banner was placed at the front door of McClymonds, where students and teachers expressed their sentiments by writing RIPs and messages to Charles.

Mack was hit with another sudden death.  Ranzeil Geegan, 15 and a sophomore, was discovered dead in his cell Monday morning.  He suffered from epilepsy.

“I’ve never had anyone close to me die.  I cried,” said Mayasa Bennett, 17, junior.

Kids were wearing his picture in chains, printed on hoodies, and even teachers were expressing their loss by contributing to the chain-making.

Why Trayvon’s Murder is So Upsetting

by Lisa Boyakins

It’s the talk at McClymonds: a 17-year-old shot and killed in Sanford, Florida after going out to buy iced tea and skittles, wearing a hoodie, like any of us. It was 7 o’clock at night.  People called it a racially motivated crime.

Students at McClymonds were angry and upset. Their reactions ranged from sadness and anger to disgust at how law enforcement has not arrested a murderer, namely George Zimmerman, the man who ran after Trayvon Martin and fatally shot him.

“I feel that this case is sad,” said Kevin Jennings, class of 2006. “An innocent kid was gunned down.”

Federal prosecutors are finally investigating the killing. A grand jury will hear evidence on April 10.

“The killing was wrong,” added Dante Bush. “If we don’t start punishing people who take the law into their own hands, then everyone will start killing people when they think it’s right.”

“It was disturbing. The boy looked like me when I was younger,” said Stephen Vance, a senior, “It wouldn’t happen in Oakland, not after Oscar Grant.”

Ouch!! Mack takes a loss

with stats from MaxPreps

by Eric Gant

The bus ride back from Sacramento must have been  brutal.  Half the team didn’t show up for school the next day.

The McClymonds Warriors played with passion and determination, but lost to the No. 2-seeded Sheldon Huskies 59-55 in the Northern California Division 1 semifinal in Sacramento on Tuesday night.

“A very tough loss,” said Dalvin Guy, junior.

About 50 students traveled to Sacramento by bus to cheer the team. They were joined by alumni, parents and other Mack students, decked in orange and black.

Sheldon took an early lead, but by halftime, the Warriors had tied the game 25-25.

“The most exciting moment was when we were tied,” said Angelique Villasana. “It was uphill but then downhill from there.”

Sheldon once again took the lead 51-36 in the fourth quarter, as McClymonds attempted three-pointers and narrowed the lead to 51-46 with 1:49 to go.

“Our missed free throws lost us the game,” said Mack coach Brandon Brooks.

Lawrence Otis led McClymonds with 14 points and Dulani Robinson had 13.

Will Meditation Make Mack More Mellow?

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photos by Indyka Reed

by Angelique Villasana

Her shoulders sagged, her body went limp, and her eyes were closed. As Brittney Conine slumped, she was totally in a state of relaxation.

The McClymonds biology teacher was a test subject in an experiment— in meditation.

Teachers meditated at a special meeting Wednesday. They were led by Jane Lazzareschi, who teaches “Quiet Time” in San Francisco.

Meditation classes were among the recommendations by the student Leadership group to make the school a more peaceful place. Students would meditate during the last 15 minutes of every class.

“We plan to start a school-wide program as a way to help people deal with trauma in their school and community,” said Namkung. A similar program was introduced at Oakland High School, he said.

In Visitacion Valley in San Francisco, once meditation was taught to students, there was a 45 percent reduction in multi-day suspensions and a slight rise in the GPA of students from 2.5 to 2.9.

“There is less violence and there are higher test scores, grades and attendance in schools that provide meditation,” said Rachael Hereford, Spanish teacher and vice principal.

Mack’s most famous alumnus: meeting Bill Russell

Umiika Rose:

“It was an honor to meet Bill Russell on Alumni Day. A famous, accomplished McClymonds graduate, who comes back to his neighborhood, his high school, his roots.”

Mack Victory: Into Semi-Finals of CIF

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(stats by Ben Enos)

by Eric Gant

It was defense all the way, and it paid off.  The McClymonds Warriors beat the Deer Valley Wolverines 87-79 in overtime Saturday night to advance to the CIF semi-finals against Sheldon.

Proud Mack fans, decked in orange and black,  filled Laney College.

Mack played hard and steady, and despite missed free throws and two key players fouling out (Dalvin Guy and Willie Williams), the Warriors came back from 10 points down in the third quarter  to send the game into overtime.

And that’s when they outscored their opponents.

The score was tied at 74 going into overtime, when Mack went ahead on a basket by Lawrence Otis and two free throws by Eric Jones.

It didn’t hurt that the Wolverines’ high scorer, 6-foot-9 Marcus Lee (22 points, 11 rebounds)  was on the bench, fouled out with 3:58 left in the game.

Much credit goes to Dulani Robinson (who led scorers with 29 points) and Jones, who forced turnovers.

“We put our minds to it,” Robinson told the Mercury-News. “We never gave up.”

Grit and persistence were evident. In a pre-game interview, Guy had predicted, “It will all come down to defense for us to get the W.”

Mack wins championship game; faces Deer Valley in CIF tomorrow night

copyright photo by Ryan Phillips OaklandNorth

by Eric Gant

Mack is back on top.

After earning the Oakland Section title (with banner and plaque), McClymonds Warriors face Deer Valley in the second round of CIF playoffs Saturday night.

“This game will come down to who is more hungry; that team will get the win,” says Dalvin Guy, McClymonds power forward, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the OAL championship game.

The McClymonds High boys basketball team beat Castlemont 57-51 last week at Laney College to capture its first section championship since 2009 — a long drought by the Warriors’ standards.

“This is something that we’re used to,” Mack coach Brandon Brooks told the Oakland Tribune. “We set our goals high.”

“The team is full of emotion going into the game,” says Guy, whose role will be to guard Marcus Lee, 6-foot-10 center of the Deer Valley Wolverines, and the key to their post game.

Senior guard Lawrence Otis is the lone active holdover from the 2009 championship team, which later made its third straight appearance in the state title game.

“It feels real good to bring it back,” Otis told reporters. “We knew we were going to win it this year because we were determined after the hard loss last year.”

The strength of the team is their press defense. If the starters step up, says Guy, they will get the win.” Earlier in the season, McClymonds beat Deer Valley by 30 points.

In the OAL championship game, Mack led by as much as 20 points in the second half and held a 47-29 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Guy says that this week’s practices were “sloppy” due to high anxiety and pressure. “We are pushing each other to the max,” he said.