This past weekend, the Westside varsity boys basketball team went up against two of Nebraska and Iowa’s top teams in Millard North and Sioux City East. After the overtime defeat against Bellevue West on Tuesday, the Warriors arrived at  “The Stable” looking to take down the second-ranked Millard North Mustangs. One big disadvantage for Westside this season has been their lack-of height throughout their lineup. In Friday night’s matchup, the height differential between the two teams played a large part in the game. With Carl Brown being the Warriors’ tallest player on the starting five at 6’4”, Jadin Johnson, a 6’4” Junior was the shortest on the Mustang starting five. 

In front of a sold-out crowd, the two teams went back and forth throughout the first quarter as Chandler Meeks put up the first eight points of the ballgame for Westside. However, throughout the second and third quarters, the Mustangs would grow a lead on the Warriors. With 38 points and at one point an 18 point lead, the Mustangs would head to the fourth quarter with a ten-point lead. Although Westside would be able to cut the deficit down to one score late in the fourth quarter, Millard North would pull ahead late for the 68-60 win. Chandler Meeks, who scored 17 points on the night with an injury to his thumb, said he felt that the team as a whole put up a solid effort.

“We gotta keep our confidence up. We just gotta finish our games. Seeing that tonight was a game that [Millard North] really wanted bad, we’re gonna show that we can win any other game,” Meeks said. “I think we’re gonna learn from this as a team and get better and nobody will be able to get in our way.”

After Friday night’s loss, the Warriors headed to DJ Sokol Arena to face the 8-2 Sioux City East Black Raiders in the Nebraska Prep Classic. The Raiders, who started off the season with a 7-game winning streak, were 1-2 in their last three going into Saturday’s matchup. The first quarter would be yet another story of runs for Westside and their opponents this season. After an 8-2 run for the Warriors, the Raiders would end the first quarter with a 9-2 run of their own to cut the deficit down to two. Although much momentum was on the Raiders’ side, the Warriors would lead the rest of the night behind a 21-point game by Reggie Thomas and 35 rebounds for the team. Head Coach Jim Simons said he felt proud of the team’s ability and perseverance throughout the weekend.

“I thought our guys competed really hard in the second half and if we play that hard we’ll give ourselves a chance. I don’t know if anybody is going to play a harder stretch than what we have played the last couple of weeks, but I think that’s how you get better,” Simons said. “You put yourself out there against good teams and if you’re a competitor you wanna play good teams. These are the games that make you better. They expose you a little bit on things you gotta continue to work on and help continue to improve but that’s how you get better.”

The Warriors will be back on the court this upcoming Friday at 7:15 with an away matchup against Millard West and then will head out to Bellevue East the next afternoon at 4:45.