The Varsity Boys Basketball Team proved that the Lions were no longer king of jungle in a controlling, 77-60, victory over the Northwest Lions, Feb. 3.

The Wildcats were dominant to start the game, sprinting out of the gates with a run, 10-0.

“We came out really strong,” Cameron Nisbet, forward, said. “We started off on a pretty good run and just kept it going throughout the game.”

The Wildcats kept the momentum going to finish off the first quarter, leading after one, 25-9.

“Our defense was pretty good in the first,” Mr. Austin Kirby, head coach, said. “We got a lot of baskets off of our defense. We got a lot of steals and got out in transition.”

The Wildcats took a 21-point lead into the halftime break, 46-25.

“I thought we played a really good half,” Coach Kirby said. “We shot the three ball pretty well and it all started because of our great play in the paint.”

The Wildcats continued to be dominant after three quarter of play, leading, 57-38.

With about three minutes left in regulation and the Wildcats in firm control, Coach Kirby was able to get every player into the game.

“It’s always great to do that,” Coach Kirby said. “The guys that battle in practice everyday get a chance to show what they’ve got.”

Further proving their dominance, the Wildcats, after the first quarter, never trailed by less than 10 points.

“It shows that we executed the game plan,” Coach Kirby said. “Offensively, we played pretty well tonight. We shared the ball well and took a lot of open shots.”

It was a great team win for the Wildcats.

“Everyone played well,” Nisbet said. “Everyone did their job. So, we got the win.”

Conner Walden, guard, led the way in scoring for the Wildcats with 22 points.

The Wildcats were able to boast three players with double-digit points, as Drew Carter, guard, added 11 points and Nisbet ended with 12.

The Wildcats improve their record on the year to 7-10, while the Lions continue their losing streak as their record fell, 0-21.

The next game for the Wildcats will be on the road at Webster Groves, Feb. 5.