The freshman boys basketball team played the Salina South Cougars on Feb. 22. The team lost to the Cougars 58-56.

¨We didn’t have the best year but we went out on a good game,” freshman Ben Crawford said. “Even though we did lose, I thought we all played pretty hard.”

To start off the game, the Railers finished the first quarter up 15-12.

¨I thought we had a comfortable lead, but in the end, things just didn’t go our way,” freshman Caleb Anderson said.

The team continued their lead throughout the second quarter, making the score 30-19 at half.

¨I was feeling really good, I thought we had them,” freshman Joel Franz said. “We were just playing really well as a team.”

During the third quarter, the Cougars outscored the Railers 18-10 , which returned the lead back to three, making the score 40-37.

¨We were just a little too comfortable at half time,” Crawford said. “Then we slowed things down in the third quarter which was probably not a good move considering they had a run on us.”

Late in the game, the score was tied at 54 all. Freshman Joe Slechta got a steal and passed it ahead for a layup. The team was leading by two points.

¨It felt good, but I knew it was not going to be easy to keep the lead,” Slechta said.

With limited time left, the Cougars were able to score two baskets, which resulted in the final score. This was the last game of this season.

¨I will really miss the connection between all of us,” Franz said.  “We all had a drive to compete better and win.”