A devastating loss on the last game of the season was only motivation for these Bobcats.

After finding out they would not be advancing to the playoffs, the Beaver Area boys basketball made the most of their last two season games.

February 11 the Bobcats had their final home game of the season against Central Valley High School. Last home games are bittersweet and emotional—especially for seniors—but also the most motivating games of the season.

In a back-and-forth game against the CV Warriors, both teams put forth a great effort and battled for possession throughout the game. Late in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats took control of the game and pulled ahead to win 60-54 over the Warriors.

The Bobcats then finished out their season on the road against South Fayette High School February 14. The Lions were a non-section game for the Bobcats—and the boys knew it would be a tough game to finish the season.

Every team hopes to win the last game of the season for the senior players who are playing their last game as a member of that team. Although some things don’t always go the way we hope, which unfortunately applied to the Bobcats many times this season.

The Bobcats fought the Lions to the last minute of the game and put forth their best effort like they always do. Unfortunately, their best effort wasn’t enough to overcome the Lions: a heartbreaking loss on the last day of the season, 64-35.

But even in defeat comes victory.

“At the beginning of the season, no one expected us to win any games, but we proved them wrong,” shared junior Sawyer Butler.

Even though the team did not make it as far as they hoped, this season was a step-up from last season. Ending the 2021-2022 season 9-11 is an incredible accomplishment after their tough 2-15 record last season.

Butler says that after taking a few months to recover from the season the team will return to the court and the weight room to grow as individual players and even more importantly as a team. The motivation and drive the team carried this season will certainly be carried into next season.

The returning players are prepared to work hard this off-season and build on the foundation the graduating seniors Josh Hill and Ryan Noel have laid for the future of this program.

See you next season!