Following the senior night festivities honoring the accomplishments of Westwood’s most decorated players in their final years representing Westwood, the varsity basketball team stormed the court with a sense of urgency and determination on Friday, Jan. 26. On the opposite side, Westwood’s district 25 opponents, the Cedar Ridge Raiders came into the night looking to upset the Warriors. Westwood was looking for revenge having dropped the earlier matchup to the Raiders after fumbling a 16-point lead. Fortunately, although it looked as if they might blow a late lead, the Warriors outlasted the Raiders this time around, winning 57-48.

“I think as a team we performed really well,” Captain Ryan Swanson ‘24 said. “Defensively and offensively I felt like we were really connected and I think we were moving the ball well.”

To start the game strong the Warriors got out to a fast lead, going on a 14-0 run with Suleyman Shah ‘24 leading the charge. Throughout the first five minutes of the game, before the Raiders finally answered with a three-pointer. Although Westwood was banking on it being a fluke, the Raiders followed with another three-pointer, and an and-one three-point-play immediately after. With the score at 14-9, the Warriors needed a new breath of life. They found this through Walker Hensley ‘24 who rose to the rim for a layup and then maneuvered the ball for an assist to end the period with the Warriors up 18-9.

Westwood returned to the court with the momentum they built at the end of the first period with Swanson and Shah dropping down buckets all over the defense to start the period. However, as the offense started to get sloppy, picking up multiple turnovers which allowed the Raiders to get within five. Fortunately for Westwood, huge three-point shots from Thomas Burke ‘25 and Sumner Holland ‘26 gave new life to the fans in cheering on the boys. With just five seconds left in the half Burke pick-pocketed the ball from the Raider point guard, taking it down the key for a layup, increasing the Warriors lead to 30-20 ending the first half.

¨Hitting a three gets everyone hyped and gets everyone going,” Holland said. “It also gives me confidence when I play.”

Coming out of the half the Warriors started to rain down buckets on Cedar Ridge with John McNair ‘26, Holland, and Burke dropping three straight three-pointers in the net early in the third to rocket the Warriors further into the lead with 24 points up on the Raiders at the end of the period. However, the memories of their last meeting with the Raiders remained vivid in their minds, as it reminded them to keep Cedar Ridge from making a comeback in the same way heading into the final minutes of the game.

Unfortunately, the Warriors stumbled through the last quarter keeping the crowd on their toes. The Raiders crept their way back into the game, eventually coming within six points of the Warriors who just five minutes prior had a 20-point lead. Time was an ally for the Warriors as the Raiders began to run out of chances to complete their comeback fully, and as a result, needed a change of pace, looking to play the foul game with the Warriors in hopes they would fail to convert. However, the Warriors didn’t let the pressure affect their shots, as if Burk and Holland had been there before, they knocked down the Raiders’ free throws, clinching the game for the Warriors.

“We got a little flat but we picked it up towards the end,” Swanson said.

The Warriors will take to the court again on Tuesday, Jan. 30, against the Vista Ridge Rangers in an away game.