COSTA MESA — The Pit at Vanguard University swelled with love Thursday night for Lakers great Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven other people who died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas on Sunday.
Purple and gold balloons accented a large banner for visitors to write messages for “Kobe & Gigi”, who were frequent visitors to the gymnasium with the Mambas youth girls basketball team.
Vanguard head women’s basketball coach Russ Davis speaks in front of members of Kobe’s youth team, the Mambas, during a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The crowd gives Vanguard head women’s basketball coach Russ Davis a standing ovation during a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Vanguard women’s basketball team joins hands with players and staff from San Diego Christian during a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wearing a Mamba Sports Academy shirt, Vanguard head women’s basketball coach Russ Davis pauses during a standing ovation during a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Vanguard assistant athletic director Kristen Struett, 27, of Irvine, signs a poster before a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Vanguard starters Victoria Chea, Michael Elad, Sierra Vaglica and Estefania Giner, from left, pause during a moment of silence during a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
San Diego Christian’s Cailey Vitug holds the ball as both teams take 24-second clock violations to honor Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash during their game at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Vanguard players and their counterparts from San Diego Christian College join head coach Russ Davis, center, in a pre-game cheer of “Mamba” after a tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash, before their game at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Kobe’s youth team, the Mambas, often practiced at the school. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With purple in her hair and wearing a Kobe jersey, Laura Silva joins a packed gym as they listen to the National Anthem after a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Vanguard head women’s basketball coach Russ Davis high-fives his players as they finish warm-ups before a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Vanguard alumni Jason Lucaci, wearing a Kobe Bryant Jersey, looks over the court during half-time after driving from his home in San Diego to support head coach Russ Davis at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Vanguard women’s basketball team joins hands with players and staff from San Diego Christian during a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Vanguard head women’s basketball coach Russ Davis high-fives members of Kobe’s youth team, the Mambas, after a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Signs supporting Kobe’s youth team, the Mambas, adorn the walls before a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wearing memorial t-shirts, the Vanguard women’s basketball team listens to a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash before their game at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kids sign a poster before a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Kobe’s youth team, the Mambas, often practiced at the school.(Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With signs supporting Team Mamba on the walls behind them, people cheer as the Vanguard women’s basketball team is introduced before their game at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The team held a pre-game tribute to Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bryant’s gold, No. 24 Lakers jersey hung on another wall, not far from a poster of Gianna.
And before a near-capacity crowd of about 900 for the university’s women’s basketball game, one of Bryant’s friends — Vanguard women’s coach Russ Davis — stepped onto the court for his first game since recovering from throat cancer.
He received a standing ovation before quickly turning the focus to the victims of the crash. He also recognized the Mambas players who lost teammates Gianna, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, Bryant (their head coach) and top assistant Christina Mauser in the accident.
Davis welcomed six players from the Mambas’ eighth-grade squad onto the court. The crowd stood again as the girls slowly and soberly walked out in their team’s trademark black, Nike sweats.
“These girls have been through a lot and they’re strong,” Davis told the hushed audience. “And they got that strength from their coach, and beloved teammates. They lost teammates, they lost their coach. They lost a lot. … We’re going to carry on (Bryant’s) vision and we’re going to make him proud.”
Before tip-off, players from Vanguard and visiting San Diego Christian linked arms and hands in a circle at center court for a prayer led by campus pastor Mike Whitford.
The prayer mentioned all the victims, including Altobelli’s parents, Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli and his wife Keri, Chester’s mother Sarah and pilot Ara Zobayan.
“Father, we pray for comfort for these families who lost love ones and friends, and we pray for comfort for this whole community,” Whitford said.
Vanguard and San Diego Christian honored the Lakers legend by opening their game with consecutive 24-second violations.
The crowd showed its respect by arriving early. Many donned the Lakers’ colors or Bryant’s jerseys.
“He was a huge part of our school,” said Aaliyah Washington, a sophomore at Vanguard. “(Last year) me and my friends figured out what time he was going to be entering the gym and so we planned it and went up to get a signed autograph jersey. … I saw his daughter (Gianna) with him, and I was just like, ‘Ah, that guy.’ “
Segerstrom High junior Lesley Luna, 16, attended the game — won by Vanguard 78-41 — with her father Jose, sister Lindsey, 15, and her basketball teammates at the school.
“Kobe has always impacted each and every one of us in a different way,” Lesley said. “It’s been really hard (since his death). … We’re going to grieve. It’s normal. It’s part of human life, but we can’t let that hold us back.”
Davis said Bryant helped him push forward to beat throat cancer. In August, the five-time NBA champion visited Davis for two hours one night at an assisted living facility.
“That meant the world me,” Davis said earlier this week. “To me, I lost a friend and a guy who had a tremendous heart.”
Vanguard embraced Bryant and his crew on Thursday.
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