KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star
Santa Rosa won their fifth consecutive game on Friday 64-61 against Bishop, with senior point guard AB Lozoya scoring 21 points in the win. With the win the Warriors are now 11-12 on the young season and are led by their senior Lozoya. The shifty point guard is a four-year letterman and is looking to guide the Warriors back to the postseason. The Valley Morning Star had a chance to catch up with Lozoya and get to know the senior a little better.
Q: So far, how has your senior season been, has it hit you that this is your final season?
A: I think my senior year has been going pretty good. Even though we haven’t been winning as much as I expected, I’ve been enjoying it. It has hit me, and I’m just trying to make the most out of every game and practice. I’m also trying to make great memories with everything that happens.
Q: After a slow start to the season, you all have been playing some good basketball what has been the difference?
A: The difference from the start of the season to now is that we finally started playing like we want to win. Most games we lost were mainly because a lot of us weren’t willing to play aggressive or go for loose balls. Now, we know that we have to do whatever it takes to win the game.
Q: What are some goals you set for yourself this season?
A: My main goal is to make it back to the regional tournament, and hopefully being able to make it to the state tournament again. I also want to be able to tell myself that I gave it everything I had, and not have to say that I could’ve given it a little more effort.
Q: What were some things you worked on in the off-season to help your game?
A: I had to work on my shot a lot more, finishing with my left hand, playing better defense and being able to take care of the ball more. I always felt like these were never good enough for the team, and I just want to be able to help them out as much as I can.
Q: As a senior how have you helped guide the younger guys on the team?
A: The main thing I tell them is that they shouldn’t be afraid to go in and play their game because I know that these guys are good. We all know how good they can be, and they can help us out, but they can’t be afraid to play against other teams, especially if they’re bigger than us. I also tell them that they should focus on defense as much as they do with offense because it’s really important in the game, and being able to dribble, pass or finish with their left because they’ll be a lot more dominant.
Q: Who is your favorite NBA point guard and why?
A: My favorite NBA point guard (He’s also my favorite basketball player) is Chris Paul because he plays so calm, and he’s a pass first player. I like that he’s always trying to create a good shot for his teammates, but when he needs to, he can also create his own shot. He also focuses on playing defense a lot, which is pretty rare now, and I like that I can relate to him being one of the smallest guys playing. He’s also not a cocky player, plays the game the way he wants it.
Q: What is the best part about playing the point guard position?
A: The best part about playing point guard is that your teammates will like you more because you’re helping them score, and that you can control the tempo of the game. You can play the way you want, and they rely on you most of the time. I like that I have their trust when I have the ball.
Q: How much does your size motivate you to play?
A: My size helps me play a lot harder because I know a lot of people believe that small people are not good and can’t compete with bigger guys. This makes me want to prove all of them wrong, and hopefully I can also motivate smaller guys to not be afraid to play against bigger people.
Q: So far what has been your best memory on playing basketball for Santa Rosa?
A: Making it to state with close friends and coach Cipriano. Since middle school, I thought about making it to the state tournament, and now I can finally say I did it. Having coach and my friends made it a lot better, and it’s something I’ll never forget.