The Lakeview Boys Basketball team had their annual senior night on February 9th against Columbiana. This game and its senior night activities were held in Lakeview High School’s new gym. Cheerleaders, parents, students, and previous players all came out to support our three Lakeview Boys Basketball seniors. Fortunately for me, I had the pleasure of interviewing some of the seniors and players.

When asked how the walk across half court was, senior Ryan Gee stated, “Finally getting to my senior night felt great, after 6 years of basketball I have seen players in grades above me such as Tyler Capan, Andrew McRoberts, and Hayden Rozzo all walk across the court and get their name called. It was fun getting my name called and hearing the loud applause that all three of the seniors got.”

Senior night for the boys is one of the most packed games each year. The stands were packed and filled out this year, and that sure made our seniors feel even better about walking the court. I also asked Senior Isaiah Warner about how he felt walking the court.

Warner said, “It was truly one of the better moments of the season after all the hard work us three have put in throughout the years to finally get recognized and bashed with applause was truly special. Even though I walked on a senior night for football, it didn’t make walking for basketball any less important for me.”  

Warner, being a two-sport athlete, had already walked earlier in the year for football. However, Gee and Senkowitz did not play a sport in the fall and this was their first time walking this year. Lastly, I asked a student section leader about what it meant to see his friends walk the court.

Senior Dylan Clements exclaimed, “It was exciting to see the kids I have known since kindergarten walk the court. The kids’ basketball games that I have been watching since 7th grade. The kids that I have made memories of and become friends with over the years. It was even better to see a packed student section to cheer them on during their special night.”

Students play a huge impact on senior night. It was special to see all those Lakeview students come support on the big night. However, senior  night wasn’t the only thing worth celebrating that night. The Bulldogs played a tough and gritty game in order to beat Columbiana. The seniors had a lot to say about the team effort that game.

Warner said, “Columbiana is a good team with great players and coaching, they were ranked ahead of us in division four playoff seedings and we were the underdogs. That didn’t stop us from beating them on our home court and on our senior night. Everyone played hard and it all paid off in a win on Senior night.” 

The Bulldogs felt extra on-fire that night playing a possible tournament matchup.

Gee stated, “Columbiana plays tough basketball, many of their players are gritty and play tough. We didn’t let that stop us from excelling in what we do and didn’t let that stop us from playing our brand of basketball. Everybody played their hardest tonight and that’s all us seniors could ask for.” 

Finally, the seniors thanked the cheerleaders for all that they had done for them throughout senior night.

Gee stated, “They made us gift baskets filled with candy and cards. It was kind of them to do. They also made a wooden frame with our names carved within it. They did a lot of things for us and got a lot of things for us that they didn’t need to do. All of us seniors appreciate what they did for us.” 

Senior night was successful and the Bulldogs hope to continue the season strong with their first playoff game against Garfield on Tuesday, February 27th.