Earlier this year, the varsity boys basketball team beat Harmony 82-55. This time around on Tuesday Feb. 7, there was no change as the team routed Harmony 52-29 in the district quarterfinals. Forward Will Faulk led with 16 points, including a stepback jump-shot which gave the team momentum going into the second quarter where they made their run.

“I didn’t go out there trying to just score a ton of points, I wanted to win,” Faulk said, “and I knew, more importantly, we had to play defense and my scoring came with it.”

Head coach Josh Kohn placed an emphasis on defense, in this game and his team held Harmony to 18 points in the rest of the game after giving up 11 in the first quarter. The early ball movement and cutting from Harmony gave the team trouble in the first quarter, but around five minutes in, they focused on keeping Harmony out of the paint and held them to four points in the second quarter.

“We made them shoot some threes, and that kind of shot is 50-50,” Kohn said, “we’ll take those over layups,”

Forward Jordan Cox also had 10 points and guard Vecarie Pettis finished with four steals and a block while being a vocal leader on the defensive side of the court. Guard Grant Greene returning and contributing after he injured his ankle at Lake Howell on January 13.  The team’s defensive focus was evident on a play in the third quarter, where Will Faulk and center Joe Conley both recorded blocks.

“I think [Cox] is our defensive warrior. He’ll give up his body, and he’s the guy you want to play with but never against,” Kohn said.

The team plays again tonight against St. Cloud at 5 p.m. in the district semifinals in Celebration.

“We have to knock down some threes next game, not that we need to rain in 10 threes because we haven’t, but just to space out the floor and give us long rebounds,” Kohn said