![Phoenix gets in position to initiate the beginning of an intense game. “It's coming to the end of the season here, so [our goal] is to just focus on working harder,” senior lineman Ryan Abbondanza said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_0042-1200x800.jpg)
On Monday, Feb. 16, the Phoenix boys basketball team faced the Broad Run Spartans. The Phoenix, despite losing by 30 and ending their season 9-12, quickly understood their mistakes in preparation for their playoff game against the Heritage Pride on Feb. 20.
The Phoenix started the game off defending from the opening tip-off. After the Spartans had taken control of the court, they scored multiple threes against the Phoenix. However, the Phoenix did not give up, slowly breaking through the Spartans’ defense with senior shooting guard Dylan Chemoiwa scoring a two-pointer. The Spartans were still in control of the court once again, leading multiple attacks against the Phoenix. The Spartans led by 17 points until small forward Shawn Makassi scored a field goal against the Spartans, leading to a 15-point gap between the Phoenix and Spartans. The first quarter ended 4-19, with the Spartans in the lead.
Starting off the second quarter, the Spartans continued to control the court, leading to multiple offensive plays against the Phoenix. However, the Phoenix continued to push back with strategic defensive plays, eventually breaking through the Spartans’ defense. Chemoiwa scored two consecutive three-pointers against the Spartans, followed by Makassi scoring a layup. The Phoenix were able to score eight points throughout the quarter; however, the Spartans fought back, scoring multiple field goals and layups against the Phoenix. Some of the Phoenix players were more impacted on a personal level when facing the Spartans.“On a personal level, I was just trying to get the team energized and have every play together and put in the effort against Broad Run,” senior small forward Siddharth Donthireddy said. The quarter ended 12-41, with the Spartans in the lead.
The Phoenix varsity players understood what mistakes were being made and were willing to improve from them, especially their offensive and defensive plays. “We weren’t hustling back on defense and just giving them open shots and just not giving effort on defense,” sophomore shooting guard Ashwin Rapolu said.
The second half of the game started with the Phoenix breaking through the Spartans’ defense, with Makassi shooting a three-pointer against the Spartans, followed by junior power forward Noah Bowen scoring a layup against the Spartans. The Spartans nonetheless continued to attack relentlessly, scoring multiple field goals against the Phoenix, causing the point gap between the Phoenix and Spartans to grow significantly. Nevertheless, the Phoenix continued to push through and once again broke through the Spartans’ defense, with Rapolu scoring a two-pointer against the Spartans. The quarter ended 24-62, with the Spartans in the lead.
The final quarter started off with both the Phoenix and Spartans contesting one another for the ball. The Phoenix eventually won the ball, leading to multiple offensive plays from the Phoenix against the Spartans. This caused the Spartans’ defense to break, and led to Chemoiwa scoring a two-pointer and a three-pointer. Right after that, Makassi scored a two-pointer against the Spartans. However, the Spartans continued to push through, scoring another five points against the Phoenix. The Phoenix, with the clock ticking, scored two field goals back-to-back, with one scored by power forward sophomore Charlie Bowen and the other by Gomes.
Despite their efforts, the fourth quarter ended 37-67, with the Spartans in the lead. Phoenix varsity players felt they had more opportunities to score later in the game compared to the first half. “I would say later in the game, we’re definitely able to run our offense more, get more open looks, and just move the ball more consistently,” senior small forward Siddharth Donthireddy said.
