‘More than basketball’: Saugus High girls’ team gifted custom sports gear

Some of the biggest dreams athletes usually talk about are winning a championship title, making their community proud, and if possible, playing at the professional level.
After all, at the professional level an athlete’s life is full of opportunities to travel around the world, receive worldwide recognition, and eventually accept brand deals and endorsements.
But moments of recognition aren’t reserved only for the pros. After finishing practice one night last week, the Saugus High School girls’ basketball team received a special surprise of their own.
At the school’s gym, parents eagerly waited for the 14 Lady Centurions.
The adults present all told each other to keep quiet and shut the doors, so the basketball players wouldn’t see what was waiting for them before they set foot into the space.
“They’re here!” one person shouted, and then the gymnasium doors were pushed wide open, revealing a group of girls who were still wearing their sweaty practice jerseys, with puzzled looks across their faces.
From one moment to the other, those puzzled looks turned into smiles, gasps and screams of excitement as they darted inside to get a closer look at what the special surprise was.
The Saugus High School girls’ basketball players were gifted Adidas custom colorway basketball sneakers, brand new uniforms, and sportswear.
The surprise was a culmination of a monthslong product research initiative done by Christian Sivley, a local resident and manager of product creation and testing for Adidas Basketball.
Long before sports performance, shoes and other gear appear online, in stores, or on the feet of signature athletes, teams of designers immerse themselves in research to bring each product to life.
Usually, college athletes across the country are given the chance to test products “that the rest of the world doesn’t know about,” Sivley said. The athletes are encouraged to give honest feedback to develop the product in the best way possible.
But what’s normally reserved as an opportunity for college players became a reality for the Saugus High girls’ basketball team because of Sivley’s local connection and his love for the game and giving back to the next generation of young athletes. Sivley’s wife is a former Saugus High basketball athlete.
“There’s things that you learn from basketball that will carry over,” Sivley said, giving credit to head coach Anthony Falasca for being a huge part of shaping the student athletes into the young adults they’re becoming and “getting them to win on the court, but more importantly, to win off the court as well,” he added.
As the girls went crazy showing each other the baby-blue-colored uniforms with the words “Lady Cent” on the front, and custom shoe boxes with their names on them, Falasca began to bring the commotion down a bit.
After showing gratitude toward Sivley, Falasca said that an opportunity such as this one wasn’t something to take lightly because such opportunities are not often reserved for girl athletes.
“Boys always get the stuff; the boys always get the support,” Falsca said. “The fact that you support us, the fact that we’re a girls’ program … thank you very much … I really respect the fact that you guys have stepped away from the norm and the boys and brought this to the girls because, I think that’s the next generation.”
As claps and cheers filled the room, Falasca took a step outside to take in the moment.
The Saugus High head coach never saw himself leading a team of girls, he said, but he took that chance to “hopefully empower them to be strong, independent humans. Not even women, just strong, independent humans.”
“For me, it’s always been more than basketball. Just show them that their effort and their hard work and their dedication are recognized and noticed. (It) was vital to me,” Falasca said.
“If you could show them some type of compassion and respect and treat them as athletes and not girls, you could get something more out of them than I think they knew how to get out of themselves,” Falasca added.
Seniors Natalie Weathers, Brianna Burroughs and Samantha Cortez began playing for the Saugus team during their freshman year.
Throughout their high school journey, the environment Falasca has created on the court for the athletes has allowed them to see it as “our safe place,” Weathers said. They all credited Falasca for their growth in the game, and as overall individuals.
“He understands how each of us kind of operate, what we need and what we need to hear in order for us to play the best,” Burroughs said.
“He also sees the potential in every single one of our players, even if some don’t play as much. He still pushes them to give 100% effort, no matter what game it is,” Cortez added.
The Lady Cents were ecstatic with their new gear, and ready to show it off at their next game. They acknowledged that the new uniforms were a boost of motivation they needed to continue their season strong.
Falasca was grateful for the opportunity to continue fueling the young girls with confidence.
After all, as head coach, he’s learned a lot about himself through them.
“I’ve gotten a little softer,” Falasca said with a light chuckle. “But I have 39 other daughters that I didn’t know I needed, and it’s a very important part of my life.”