Last season, the varsity boys basketball team lost the first matchup against Oviedo, but won the second one. This season, it was exactly the same.

On Thursday, Feb. 2, the team defeated Oviedo 56-52 to improve their record to 14-10. Forward Will Faulk led the team with 22 points, including a layup and an and-one in the final minutes of the game to seal the victory for the team.

“Coming into the game, we were excited and focused,” Faulk said. “I knew when I hit the and-one that it was a wrap, we beat Oviedo.”

Also contributing to the win was guard Andrew Hope, who started in place of Grant Greene, as he was still battling the ankle injury he suffered in the 71-52 loss to Lake Howell on Jan. 13.

“It was a relief in my final Hagerty-Oviedo game to bounce back and avenge the December loss on their court,” Hope said. “This was my favorite basketball moment ever.”

Entering the game, one thing that was on head coach Josh Kohn’s mind was stopping Oviedo’s Ivan Smith, as he scored 26 points in the team’s 72-69 loss on Dec. 16. However, the team held him below that this game.

“I didn’t need to give the players a speech before the game because they knew who was on the other side,” Kohn said. “Our defense came ready to play against Ivan and Oviedo and it made a difference in the end.”

The team plays Winter Springs tomorrow night in the Kave at 7:30 p.m. for the last game of the regular season. After this game, the team will begin to focus on the playoffs, as they will take on Harmony in the district quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

“We just have to close out this season strong and get ready for Harmony,” Kohn said. “We beat them earlier in the season and the fact that it’s a home game too makes me excited for the guys.”