The boys basketball played its first district game against Fort Zumwalt North last night at Timberland. The boys captured a 60-54 victory over the FZN Panthers. Senior Marcus James had 27 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Senior Nathan Garthe had 15 points and 9 rebounds.

“The mindset [last night] was just to play as hard as we can, because we don’t want our season to end,” James said. “Senior night was kind of heartbreaking, but we just want to win districts now.”

Starting with the lead, the boys gained the confidence they’ve been lacking all season. By the end of the first quarter the Spartans were up 11-10. At the end of the third quarter the team was winning 35-30. Then the Spartans pulled a big lead in the fourth to get the winning result of 60-54.

“We started out the game with a 7-0 run, so that was nice, but then they [FZN] scored a three and ever since then we just kind of held the four-or-five-point lead,” senior Kaleb Cissell said.

The next district game the boys will play is against the Timberland this evening. During regular season the boys lost to the Wolves by three points, after being up 15 at halftime. The biggest challenge the boys have been facing this season is their lack of defense.

“We think that the offensive side is more important than the defensive side, when it should be the opposite,” Garthe said. “Offensive will come, but defense we have to work on.”
The team will play Timberland tonight hosted by Timberland in the district quarterfinals, February 28 at 7 p.m. If they win, they will be in the district championship on Friday. If they lose their season will be over.