The boys varsity basketball team defeated the Taunton Tigers 68-45 on Friday, Feb. 27, in the Schluntz Gymnasium. The game was a play-in game, and the win secured the Warriors a spot in the round of 32.

The Warriors came into the game with a record of 13 wins and nine losses, whereas the Tigers had a record of 10 wins and 10 losses. Both teams fought to bounce back from defeats.

Junior and captain Caleb Haynes emphasized the team’s excitement for the matchup.

“We felt very pumped all day at school. Since last night after practice, we were all pumped,” Haynes said.

Junior Cole Horowitz said the school closure due to snow earlier in the week made the game even more special.

“Those [days] were pretty slow, but coming back, feeling the buzz around the game, we were all just stoked to play,” Horowitz said.

The first points of the game were scored by the Warriors, jump-starting them to a lead of 14-9 by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, the Warriors were able to increase their lead to almost 20, with the score of the game at 32-13.

Head coach Johnny Williams said he made sure the team kept their confidence in check.

“I told the boys to continue to play like we’re down 30, and if we play like we’re down 30, we get the victory,” Williams said.

Haynes said that during halftime in the locker room, he reminded his teammates to keep their heads in the game, despite their large lead.

“We just tried to keep the same energy and come out and keep playing hard to finish the game, and I feel like it showed up on the scoreboard,” Haynes said.

Through the third and fourth quarters, the Warriors stayed steadily on top and ended the game with a score of 68-45. Haynes made many notable plays throughout the game and was an important presence for the Warriors.

“My performance today was good. I feel like I did everything I could to help my teammates and help us win the game,” Haynes said.

Horowitz also had a strong performance, consistently applying defensive and offensive pressure throughout the game.

“I think that I did the best I could today with that, my teammates had my back, I had their back, and it showed on the scoreboard tonight,” Horowitz said.

Williams said he was confident in the team’s ability to win this game and was happy with the result and the way the team stuck to their fundamentals.

“I felt my boys played well defensively. They stuck to their principles. We just did everything we were supposed to do,” Williams said.

Horowitz said after seeing the other team during warm-ups, he knew the game was going to be all about defense.

“It was really just about locking in and really focusing on your role and seeing what you can do on defense as playing your part and trusting your teammates,” Horowitz said.

This win gave the Warriors a spot in the round of 32. Their next match will be against the fifth-seeded New Bedford Whalers on Sunday, Feb. 29th.

Coach Williams said he thinks his team is ready for the playoffs.

“My boys are more than capable of winning five games in a row,” Williams said. “So they can win a state title if they stay locked in.”