The boys and girls basketball teams had to wait to get a shot at beating the Maize Eagles after the game had been rescheduled twice due to bad weather. They got their chance Thursday night on Feb. 22.

The girls entered the game with a similar record to Maize and the score reflected it. Maize’s strong defense kept the game close the entire time, including taking the lead at one point.

The Railers battled back to win 33-32. Junior DesiRay Kernal led the team in points with thirteen. Senior Taylor Antonowich scored the basket that put the Railers ahead for good after being wide open near the base line.

“Maize was way too focused on the ball and they were trying to trap whoever had the ball so we got it to Kalli [Anderson] at the free throw line and I was wide open underneath,” Antonowich said.

The Eagles brought a press defense that gave the Railers trouble early, forcing multiple turnovers. The Railers, however, came out with a plan after half time.

“We started taking the ball up to half court and making them guard us. We got them out of their zone and they started fouling us so we were able to get to the free throw line,” Antonowich said.

After the tight finish of the girls game before it, the boys followed that up with trying to keep up with a strong Eagle offense to start their game.     

They scored 14 points in the opening quarter but still trailed 14-20. The Railers trailed 45-26 at the half and ended up falling 71-36 to a Maize team that is now 10-1 in the AVCTL.

Sophomore Ty Berry led the team in scoring with 12 points. According to senior Cailen Valdez, the team still lacked energy.

“Everybody was just dead and we weren’t ready to play. At halftime, he [coach Andy Hill] tried to fire us up and get us some energy but it didn’t work out tonight,” Valdez said.

Both teams turn around to play again Friday for their last regular season game on senior night against Salina Central.