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By Elizabeth Summa

Going up for a shot, sophomore JaKhai Carter gets fouled.

The boys basketball team won their seventh game in a row on Friday, Feb. 23 with a final score of 68-50 against Lawrence Free State. With such a record, the team is optimistic about their chances of making it to state, despite their rough first half of the game. 

According to senior Bryant Wiltse, the team has suffered from slow starts all season, but has been able to recover to secure their win. 

“We came out really slow coming into half,” Wiltse said. “Then the coach got into us a little bit because we weren’t playing too well. Then we took off and at the end, we got everybody in [the game].” 

While the team had a nearly consistent lead in the game, Wiltse would like to see a better first half of the game going forward.

“[The coaches] told us to pick it up, shoot your shots, stop feeling down whenever you miss a shot,” Wiltse said. “Honestly our biggest problem is our energy, we were a little out of focus. We just have to get focused earlier on.”

When the team secured their lead following two fouls on the opposing team, they were able to play many of their younger players.

“Honestly, getting the guys that don’t always play the varsity games was a lot of fun,” Wiltse said. “That was probably the best part.”

Sophomore players like Jakhai Carter got to highlight their skills in the game, scoring many of the team’s overall points.

“I’m a point guard on the team so whatever the team needs for us to win I’m trying to do, whether that’s scoring or facilitating for my teammates,” Carter said. “Whatever I can do to help my team win is what I’m doing.”

Carter is optimistic about his future in basketball and hopes the team advances in the season.

“I’ve been playing basketball for fourteen years, since I was two,” Carter said. “I want to play as long as I can play. I want to win; I want to keep winning. We are going to play as a team, move the ball, communicate and just play our game how we’re supposed to play.”