The Eaton Boys basketball season is in full swing, and the cross-town rival game against Highland is always a game that packs the stands. With the towns being so close, both communities show up, so it’s difficult to tell who is the home team. The rivalry fills the gym, creating a high-stress situation for both teams.
With a sea of both red and green fans, the Reds and Huskies took the court on Jan. 9 at Highland. The Reds walked into the gym with a record of 6-2, their only losses being to Resurrection Christian and Severance. The Huskies walked in with a record of 7-1, with their only loss being to Forge Christian. These two teams have both had a successful start to the season, both finding themselves ranked in the top six for their respective divisions.
The boys varsity game took place immediately after the girls game, resulting in a win for the reds. The Huskies took the lead early, so the Reds had to play catch up. Junior Crew Haythorn said, “Even with the big environment, we kept our composure well and knew it was gonna be a game of runs. We just never wanted it to get out of hand.” The Reds maintained their composure, and slowly took the lead back.
Headed into the third quarter, the score was close, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. Haythorn came in clutch as time ran out. He led the team with 25 points and five rebounds. Senior, Ely Madaleno, also carried a heavy load, finishing the game with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. The two have been a dynamic duo all season as they are the top two scorers for the team thus far.
The Reds finished the game on top with a score of 57-50. The Eaton fanbase left the gym filled with pride, as the Reds have left this rivalry match unsuccessful for the last two seasons. After finally getting redemption, the seniors were happy to finish their careers on top. It also proved to themselves that they were capable of beating other highly ranked teams. Haythorn said, “It’s a big deal of course (to beat Highland), but it was just us taking care of business, which shows we can get the job done.
This win helped the boys gain momentum and confidence going into league play. Their first game against another Patriot League team will take place on Jan. 15 against Fort Morgan. The Reds have 10 games remaining of their regular season, and they are hoping to lengthen their winning streak. Madaleno said, “This game helped us with big energy games like the ones coming up like Fort Morgan, University, and Sterling to make us comfortable in those situations that will come up later in the season.”
The next rivalry game will happen on Jan. 22 against University. The Reds will be chasing revenge this season, as they lost to the Bulldogs last season. With both University and Eaton competing in 4A and the Patriot League this season, it will be an intense matchup. The is undoubtedly going to be a fan-filled gym, as no one will want to miss this game.
The Reds have just finished the beginning portion of their season, and they are determined to continue to grow as the season progresses. With five seniors on the roster, they are set on finishing their high school careers with something to be proud of.
