A Fight to the Finish

By: Destiny Cannon and Izabella Hotz

January 31, 2020

The boys varsity basketball team faced off against the Fairport Harbor Skippers with a starting lineup of senior Tristan Peggs, sophomore Maceo Pytel, freshman Jaiden Bassinger, sophomore Areon Cowling, and freshman Anthony Starr. 

Coach Jerrod Karl shared his thoughts going into the game. “We just gotta play physical…we have to make this team feel uncomfortable.” 

He also stated that a key part of this game will be to,  “…keep the kids up and focus on the positives.”

The game started with the tip-off by Cowling, setting a highly-energetic tone for the rest of the quarter. The team worked and fought hard, but the defense struggled as they trailed at the end of the first quarter, 18-11.

The second quarter was back-and-forth with stints of great offense and other stints of great defense. However, finding both at the same was difficult.

The passing and opportunities for easy shots were there, but they were just not falling consistently. Towards the end of this quarter, the chemistry started to fade and communication broke down.

The score at halftime was the Skippers 36 and the Hurricanes 26.

Halftime featured a performance by the cheer squads, dancing to a mashup of popular songs.

The team came into the third quarter with focus and determination as well as an aggressive attitude, overall. However, after two technical fouls, they started to lose their concentration, becoming less physical and much less aggressive.

The quarter ended with the Canes trailing 60-36. 

The fourth quarter presented an opportunity to come back as the defense and offense seemed to both click at the same time.  Although the Canes outscored the Skippers 30-17, the deficit was too big to overcome.

Basinger played a key role in the last quarter with explosive energy and by helping to rally the team together. He finished with 25 points. Patel added 23 points.

A 77-66 defeat hurts, but the Canes understand that they need to play four quarters of high-energy and fundamental basketball.  

Their next game is Tuesday, February 4, as they travel to face the Lutheran West Longhorns.