After a highly anticipated rivalry game, the boys’ varsity basketball team started off the season with a 59-54 loss against Richard Montgomery HS on Dec. 6.

There were multiple times during the game when the Rams were tied with RM. The game ended with the team losing by five points, unable to gain the lead with limited time left on the clock.

The team plans on putting in the effort and dedication to win their next games. “It all depends on the work we put in,” senior forward Nnamdi Osakwe said.

Although the two snow days at the beginning of the week set the team back on practice time, they must prepare fast for their game against Whitman HS on Dec. 11 and also for their game on Dec 13 against Quince Orchard HS.

The team was down at half time, but thrilled the crowd with an almost winning comeback in the second half.

Senior guards Brian Ball and Nehemiah Jackson led the team scoring 36 points combined. Both Ball and Jackson are captains of the team, along with senior Brad Rogers. “I’m looking forward to working hard as a team this season and winning games,” Ball said.

Head coach Steve Watson agrees that hard work will be the key to the team’s success down the road. “I want us to play hard. I think we have good talent a�� but we play a super competitive schedule so I have no idea [how the season will turn out],” Watson said.

After the buzzer at the end of the game sounded, RM fans stormed onto the court. Many RHS students believe this was a gesture of payback from when RHS fans stormed RM’s football field after defeating them Sept. 6 in the final minutes of the game. This game was especially exciting not only because it was the first game, but the team played a rival school.

“It wasn’t the right time or place. They only stormed our court to get back at us because we did it to them on their field,” senior Aneel Awan said.

Despite the disappointing loss, the RHS student section was there to show their support. The Inferno yelled chants like “I believe that we will win!” and sported bright orange shirts, along with other students participating in the orange-out. All students wearing their Inferno shirts were let into the game for free, and did not fail to show their excitement.

The team still has high hopes for the 2013-2014 season. Last season, they ended their season with a winning record and this winter they hope to do the same although they have a different and more challenging schedule.

“I think we have the potential to do really well this year if we play like we all know we can – when we work as one unit towards one goal,” senior center Jacob Griffiths-Randolph said.