Midway through the season, the Cleveland boys basketball team is continuing to spark excitement on campus. They sit at a record of 5-12, good for a ranking of No. 35 in the state, with a 1-7 record in league play, sitting eighth in the PIL as of Tuesday, Feb. 3. 

Much of the spotlight is on two star seniors, Andrew Haas, and Patrick Duque. Together, they lead the team in scoring with Duque dominating from three point range, and Haas being the big man down low. 

Haas has been phenomenal this season, receiving MVP chants from the student section.

When asked about the team’s goals for the season, Duque explained how they need to “definitely up the team’s chemistry, make it to the playoffs, and at least make it to the second round,” avenging their first round loss from last year. And, “try our best to have a winning record and win the PIL.”  

The Warriors and coach Sam Glasgow focus on possessing the ball well and maintaining ball movement on offense. Using Haas’s size to easily post up opposing big men and earn extra points off offensive rebounds. Prioritizing their ball movement allows the team to counter trap defense and create spaces beyond the three point line for sharp shooters like Duque to take advantage. 

As the season continues with league play, the boys will need quality performances every week to catch up. Currently, the squad is in their hardest point in the season, in the heat of league play. Their hardest matchups for the end of the season are No.13-ranked Grant, and No. 23-ranked Benson. 

The team will need to rank no. 32 or above in the state rankings to make the playoffs. In order to have success this season, achieving a higher rank is a must. Last year, we saw the Warriors try their best against a highly-skilled no. 8-ranked West Linn team. Beginning with a higher seed will do wonders for the Warriors’ progression for this season and give them an extra advantage for the playoffs.