Four minutes left: Owls are down, shot clocks running low, and freshman Wyatt Sparling is at the top of the key with defenders all over him. Sparling steps back, puts up a shot, the buzzer rings out, BANG! 

Last month our Men’s Basketball team matched up with local rival West Valley Vikings for a late-night thriller. Just earlier this month West Valley handed us a heartbreaking 82-51 loss. However, tonight was not going to be so easy. 

The game started strong with a promising lead thanks to effort on both sides of the court from freshman guard Axel Castrejon, who quickly collected a handful of rebounds and points. Will Ambidge also started hot, hauling in a rebound and taking it coast to coast, cutting into the paint for a 3-point play. Ambidge finished with a team high of 17 points, adding onto his 6 rebounds and a steal, while Castrejon was everywhere finishing with 9 points 4 rebounds and 7 assists. They weren’t alone either as Sparling was not only sinking 3s, but finished with 16 points, four assists, and one block. Thanks to their efforts, alongside contributions from unsung heroes like #3, Paulie Majoulet, who, after an injury scare, clocked in two clutch rebounds, or the dance team who kept the energy sky high into the final minutes of the game. With the electrified parent turnout combined with the dance team’s cheers, you could have sworn you were watching a March Madness thriller. 

While ultimately the Vikings outlasted us, winning 74-71, the game was much more than a loss on our record. The Owls proved that we can compete with anyone on any night and at the tail end of a 3-game winning streak, we can’t wait for our next opportunity to show just how competitive we are.