By: Darius Duran

With the beginning of a new postseason, the Eaton Reds’ Boy’s Basketball team heads into their first district tournament game,  against the Valley Vikings (6-14, 4-12) on Tuesday, February 24. The Reds had a rocky start to this year’s season starting the season with a record of 2-4, but the Reds were effectively able to turn their season around and finish with a total record of 12-7, and a league record of 11-5. Last year, the Reds suffered an unfortunate loss to the Estes Park Bobcats that ended their season in the Patriot League District Tournament. This season, the Reds were able to earn a second-string seed in the district tournament, which gave them an automatic advancement to the second round. The tenth seeded Valley Vikings were able to beat the Bobcats (7-13, 6-10) 60-57 to advance to round two to play the Reds.

The Reds ended their regular season with two wins in a row including their Senior night win against the Strasburg Indians (6-14, 4-12) with a final score of 57-47. When asked about the finish the Reds had, Joe Mondragon (16) said, “It was for sure good to send the seniors out with a win, just getting ready for the postseason…” The Reds also were able to win their final game of the season on the road against the University Bulldogs (7-13, 5-11), also with a final score of 57-47. The Reds finished the season with enough momentum to send them into the postseason eager to win the tournament and make it to state.

Mondragon also said, “I feel like we’re in a good position, we’re really starting to come together as a team and I’m excited to see what we can do.”

The Boys will play their first tournament game on Tuesday, Feb. 24 against the Valley Vikings, and a win will send them to the next round in the tournament on Thursday, Feb 26 to face off against the winner of the Frontier Academy Wolverines (12-7, 11-5) and Liberty Common Eagles (15-5, 7-3). A loss for the Boys tonight will send them to play the loser of the two teams to advance for a fifth place finish.