Facing off against the Anderson Trojans, the freshman boys orange basketball team won 46-41 on Tuesday, Nov. 19. And so they started it with a bang as Miles Fustes ‘28 sank a three-pointer and Khalil Alexander ‘28 drove in three more in the first quarter, bringing the Warriors up 17-7 in the primary moments of the game. 

“I practiced a lot [over the summer], and it made me a little more confident in how I took my shots and where I took them from,” Alexander said.

The pace shifted going into the second quarter, as scoring decelerated and the game slowed down. But soon, Bradley Rogers ‘28, draining a three-pointer, continued the slow battle against the Trojans. The Warriors continued their lead, but despair began to grow as the score advanced and the Warriors’ lead shrank to five as the score at half was 23-18.

“It definitely slowed down around the second quarter, but I think we picked it up around the fourth quarter, so we were able to finish the game with a win,” Alexander said.

The game continued to chug along going into the third quarter, as the match became a battle to keep the Trojans from scoring. But soon, the game began to mount speed as Bryan Li ‘28 stole the ball for a quick breakaway shot. With both teams on the offensive, Aarav Karumanchi ‘28 made a bucket in the paint that brought the Warriors up to 31-24 at the end of the third. 

“I think defense was a big thing, defense and getting on the offensive and defensive boards, so we’re able to have as many opportunities as we need to score the basketball,” Alexander said.

The fourth quarter was tumultuous for the Warrior’s fans, as the Trojans began to score more and more as the clock ran down. Fighting back, the Warriors made a few layups, but began to feel hopeless as the Trojans made back to back shots with less than a minute left in the game. The Warriors began to focus solely on defense to keep the Trojans from scoring. Soon the Warriors earned a free throw with four seconds left in the game, bringing the score to 46-41, choking out the Trojans for their victory. 

The Warriors will take the court again on Friday, Nov. 22, in an away game against the Glenn Grizzlies to try and catch another win before district play.