![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![French teacher Marieme Toure serves a plate of the Senegalese food she prepared for her AP French Language and Culture class, to senior Faiza Syed. “I never had Senegalese food before,” Syed said. “I thought it was so cool that she was able to bring a part of her culture [and] background to us.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0798-1200x906.jpeg)
![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Phoenix boys basketball team squared off against the Loudoun Valley Vikings in a down-to-the-wire match. The game ended with the Vikings taking the game with a 59-53 ending score.
The game got off to a strong start for both teams with the lead repeatedly switching between the Vikings and the Phoenix. Despite a strong Phoenix effort, the first quarter ended with a Vikings lead, 11-7. “[A big thing for us was] ball movement,” junior Sid Donthireddy said. “We were working together trying to push forward. We didn’t win, but it was a great game for us.”
In the second quarter, the Phoenix came off the bench with a renewed sense of energy. The score remained tight until the buzzer went off to close the first half 27-25 with the Vikings in the lead. During the third and fourth quarters, the Vikings capitalized on aggressive fouls taken by the Phoenix. Despite the foul trouble, the Phoenix and Vikings each scored 15 points in the third quarter, making the score 42-40 in the Vikings favor. “Mihir came off the bench and gave us some energy,” junior Dylan Chemoiwa said. “Will and Sid got some good shots in, [too].”
The Phoenix had to rely on senior leadership throughout the second half. After losing key seniors from last year, many of this year’s upperclassmen have had to step up as leaders and fill their shoes. “I want to put it all out there and not have any regrets,” senior Mihir Peta said. “I am really trying to lead my underclassmen.”
The final quarter of the game left those in the stands at the edge of their seats as the Phoenix and Vikings battled to make defensive stops. However, in the last 45 seconds, the Vikings were able to pull away, ending the game with a five-point lead, resulting in a 59-53 final score.
The Phoenix boys basketball will next play the Heritage Pride at home on Jan. 22.
