by Evan Joseph and Perri Williams ’23

The boys’ varsity basketball team recently is showing signs of turning around their season. During an 0-8 start, the Warriors lost in almost every way imaginable. That includes blowouts against B-CC, Urbana, and Churchill, and heartbreaking losses that just barely slipped away against Einstein, Blake, and Paint Branch. The Warriors hope to find some rhythm after winning consecutive games against Northwood 73-54 and then against Blair on January 14 by a score of 68-61.

The way the Warriors handled the game against Northwood provided a template for turning things around. Even with a slow start offensively for the Warriors in the first half, they proved to be everywhere on defense and caused many turnovers through steals. In the second half, they transitioned this defensive success into offense as they ran away with the game. Senior forward Donovan Prophet continues to turn heads as he put together another great game against Northwood. Seniors Henry Hasanaj (guard), and Brandon Daniels (forward), along with junior Mason Eller (guard/forward) also made great contributions. On January 18, the Warriors looked for revenge against Blake and to continue to turn their season around.

Girls basketball also has struggled through a challenging first half of the season. The team only returned two players from when the Warriors last had a season two years ago. Not only are the players still getting a feel for their teammates’ style of play, but they also had to contend with a Covid-19 outbreaks that also left them without head coach Tim Hobbs for two games. Girls basketball lost to B-CC, Urbana, and Churchill, with games against Magruder and Paint Branch postponed due to Covid-19 outbreaks.

After the winter break the team looked more like their promising selves in a close 66-61 loss in overtime against Blake in the first conference games of the season. Junior Elizabeth Furgione and senior Kay Sakala both scored career highs. The Warriors pushed the ball in the open court to lead to easy baskets in their 56-18 victory against Wheaton and 54-30 win over Northwood. On January 14, the girls played their rival and the No. 1 seed in the division and region, Blair. The Warriors held the lead against Blair the entire game and eventually secured a 47-32 win.