The freshman basketball season ended with a bang. After all of their regular season games were finished, the team suited up for one final game… against each other. The Blue team, coached by assistant coach Matt Kass, took on the White team, coached by head Coach Andrew Reese. The game included the student managers who had practiced with the team all year, and a few celebrity assistant coaches.

While some may think of this game as a good-natured scrimmage, both sides were hungry for a win to end the year.

Going into the game, Coach Reese said,“You can’t let your head get too big, knowing there’s a good team on the other side of the court. It helps that they’re missing a good player. I think we just need to focus on our game plan, and we’ll pull out a victory.”

Meanwhile, in the Blue locker, Coach Kass wrote his keys to the game on the board. They read, “Play hard, play good defense, and score more points than the other team.”

Student Assistant Coach Riley Collins motivated them  with some inspirational quotes.

“It really made us thankful that we were able to play this beautiful game and go out and compete. It inspired us to do our best,” said Matt Becker, who was inspired by Collins.

The game itself saw many lead changes. Mitch Walz led the White team with 12 points, and Joe Kann led Blue with 13.

“I was feeling it, and I just wanted to end the season strong. I wanted to end the year knowing that I did well,” said Walz about his breakout game.

Manager/player Logan Sauser was psyched about his debut game as a Golden Eagle.

“I honestly just feel really excited to be playing in my first Wahlert basketball game. It’s an honor to be playing alongside fellow classmates and at a program with so much tradition, and just to be playing the game of basketball,” said Sauser.

The Blue team, clad in yellow headbands, ended up winning the game by six points.

“I felt like Joe Kann really put the team on his back, and I’d like to thank Andrew Evans’ mom for the idea of the athletic bands. Coach drafted his team based on hustle and effort and that turned out to be the winning formula,” said power forward David Hughes of the Blue squad.

Assistant Coach Harry Blewett of the White team offered his input on why his team came up short.

“To win the game, there’s a rainbow involved. At the end of that rainbow there’s a pot of gold. Coach Reese and I couldn’t find the pot of gold and Coach Kass did,” said Blewett.

After the game, the team ended the night with pizza and awards. Braden Gebhart and

Matthew Becker took home Co-Offensive MVPs by scoring 110 points each. Andrew Evans and Carter Oberfoell won the hustle award for their constant movement during the team’s defensive press. Trenton Dodds took home defensive MVP, and Bryce Osterberger won overall team MVP.