Panthers Own the Paint By: Lucy Malone Warmth lingers in the air as spring reluctantly approaches, and another season of brotherhood and teamwork wraps up on the court as well. The boys basketball team has had an incredibly memorable season this year, with many underclassmen showcasing how their skills will improve and strengthen next year. Ryne Myers (10), Colton London (10), and Hunter Click (12) discuss how the recent Battle of the Bridge game at Loudon affected them personally as well as athletically. The boys’ win in that game shaped their expectations for their remaining district games and how this basketball season has taught them discipline and resilience. “It felt great to win because the Loudon student section was talking a lot of crap. I think what we did differently this time was that we didn’t let them score and were really good with our rebounds too,” London said. The Loudon game was filled with emotion: parents packed the stands, students roared in their sections, and everyone was decked out or painted in red or orange. While some were on the edge of their seats in the first half, by the fourth quarter it became clear that the Panthers had already won. Many of Loudon’s supporters that were confident enough to talk poorly about our players in the beginning soon left their seats in the fourth and headed home to beat traffic. As a sophomore, the pressure of a rivalry game can be somewhat new, and Myers talks about his experience. “It was the biggest game of the year for me. Even though I was focused on winning and having fun, I felt relieved after beating the crap out of Loudon because it gave us a lot of momentum for the district games,” Myers said. As one of the seniors that was an essential and important part of this win, Click explains his point of view. “[The Loudon game] was the last regular season game and because it's such a big rivalry, we had a big momentum shift and it increased our morale a lot. It always feels good to win against [Loudon] but it feels the best this year because it's my senior year and there were so many people there to support,” Click said. Years of practices, tournaments, bus rides, and games have given our seniors experiences that they will forever learn and grow from. Even though there are a few district games left, the last couple home games as well as their last rivalry did leave a bittersweet feeling with our seniors regardless of the scoreboard. London mentions how his friendships impact their playing during these last few games. “It was a little sad because I have definitely gotten close with some of our seniors, especially Hunter, and we don’t want their season to end. This was a big motivation for us to win to try and keep their last season going a bit longer,” London said. With district games right around the corner, this morale boost could not have come at a better moment for these boys. The team knows post season demands sharp focus and greater intensity, but the seniors can’t help but reflect on their basketball career so far when looking towards their future careers or hobbies. “It's cheesy to say, but high school basketball really did fly by fast and has taught me a lot. I wish I had played harder for the bigger games, so there are a few regrets in there," Click said. For the seniors, these final games represent the end of their high school basketball, but the beginning of their spring sports as well as a step closer to graduation and college. Basketball has undeniably left its mark on this group of young men as the rising players step into their shoes, the boys' strong foundations and growth remain evident. “I want to keep this same momentum for next year because we will be in the same district and I know our team will just keep getting better,” Myers said.