On Friday, February 27th, the Palisade Boys Basketball team had its first playoff game. It was such a big game because it was the first round and they were playing Pueblo County. The first round of Playoffs is always the biggest round and most nerve-racking because you have a lot of pressure on your back, especially when you’re the number one team in the state and are playing at home. It’s the game that decides whether all their work played off or if it’s their last game of the season. With roaring support from the student section and the parents, they put in a lot of work to secure this exciting win, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.
After interviewing junior Carter Hayward about his thoughts on the game, he said, “It took a while to get our legs underneath us,” explaining how the pace and intensity of a Playoff game hit differently than a regular-season game. But once they settled in, the Bulldogs found their rhythm, even though it might not have been from the start; they never gave up or lost focus. Hayward also says, “Having that adversity when you’re down really prepared us for the next round to come,” showing how much the team grew.
It was a fight for the Bulldogs, and this win shows that they never back down. They ended up taking a close win, 47-45, in a game that had the crowd and everyone watchingon the edge of their seats. The energy in the gym was electric, and that win boosted their confidence into Tuesday’s matchup against Fredrick.
