<p>2</a> guards, 2 ways / Fast friends both achieved in different upbringings</p>
<p>Niveen Rasheed, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, and Lauren Polansky, the daughter of a brilliant Jewish scientist, are two of the best basketball players in the Bay area. They’re also close friends. There is much that unites them, including heading to Princeton next year.</p>
<p>Here is their story:</p>
<p>“In Livermore High School's barn-like gym, Niveen Rasheed is having a friendly chat with a ref as she's waiting for her team to inbound the ball. Then the smile disappears. When she feels like taking over the game, she does. In 23 minutes of action, she has 25 points and 17 rebounds - not bad for a point guard - as her Monte Vista-Danville team wins by 22.</p>
<p>“At 5-foot-9, Lauren Polansky is 3 inches shorter than Rasheed. When it comes to sharing the ball, Polansky channels Mother Teresa. She passes up open shots to set up her teammates, yet still scores 15 on this night at Dominican University in San Rafael, the home court of the two-time defending Division V state champion Branson Bulls. On defense, she fits the description all her coaches use: relentless. She has nine steals in a nine-point win over Marin Catholic.</p>
<p>“Rasheed and Polansky, two of the best players in the Bay Area, are close friends from playing together last year for the successful East Bay Xplosion club team. They're also excellent students who were highly recruited by Division I schools. They're both going to Princeton in the fall, practically guaranteeing the Tigers a loaded backcourt for the next four years.</p>
<p>(continued…)</p>