On December 3, 2024, the boys varsity basketball team dominated the Carmel Corsairs on Wildcat grounds with a final score of 52-46. With this being the first regular season game for the Cats, they are fired up and eager to take more wins.
To begin the game, senior Johnathan Adjei (12) fires up a three point shot, starting the cats off in the lead. Just minutes into the game, junior Blaise LaVista (4) gets subbed in, and wastes no time before getting in on the action, especially defensively. Throughout the duration of the game, junior Bryce Wegrzyn put up many layups for the cats, and served to be a vital player.
“Blaise and Terrance were playing really good defense the whole game,” Adjei said, “They were locking up [Carmel’s] best players.”
Terrance Davis (23) was not only a key asset in achieving the win against Carmel, but the shooting guard is only a freshman, with four full years of varsity highschool basketball in front of him.
Going into the second quarter, the Wildcats lead the Corsairs, 16-11, however, after effortful fights from both teams, the score soon progresses in favor of the corsairs: 20-22. This was unacceptable for Davis (23), and to tie up the score, the freshman dunks the ball: 22-22.
The Cats and Corsairs kept a fairly close game in the first half of the game, until senior point guard Liam Hanson (1) rebounds the ball, giving the Cats a new lead on the corsairs. With two more two-point shots from both Hanson and Adjei, the cats lead the corsairs, 28-22 at the end of the first half.
To begin the second half, Adjei immediately puts up a three-pointer for the cats.
“It’s always great to play here.” Adjei said.
LaVista assists Wegrzyn in a shot, followed by a foul on Wegrzyn, giving him the opportunity for a free throw in which he scores again.
With many more effortful points made by Wegrzyn and his teammates, the score becomes 34-25, with the Cats now dragging the Corsairs behind them.
Hanson goes in for a shot as Carmel junior Ethan Matz (3) attempts to stop him, however this does not turn out well for Matz, as he fouls Hansons and allows him to score for the Cats in a free throw.
As the game gets closer to the final buzzer, with 4:30 left, and a score of 44:44, Wegrzyn, Hanson and Adjei all add to the score, leaving the Corsairs in wildcat dust: 52-46.
“[A personal highlight] was probably that three I hit in the fourth quarter.” Adjei said, “it was a pretty close game at that point.”
The Wildcats hope to secure another win against Palatine on Saturday, December 7, at 3:30 pm in the main gym.
