Last Friday night we saw the first big student turnout of the year. The Academic Magnet Raptors took on Charleston Math and Science in a high pace, and high scoring matchup that ended in a narrow and slim Charleston Math and Science win. The final score of this game was 61-55. 

Athletic Director Raymond Knauer made some important arrangements for this game, as due to popular requests by players on the basketball team like Bennett Bair and Jaidon Daley, the cost of admission into the game was exactly zero dollars. This act warranted an extremely solid turnout for the Academic Magnet basketball team supporters. The game consisted of loud cheer and support for the Raptors, as this turnout and the impact of the fans in the bird cage caused many turnovers for Charleston Math and Science, and gave much momentum to our Raptors after long threes and big plays on defense, making it hard for Charleston Math and Science to concentrate on their game and craft. 

The game was an overall solid loss for the Raptors. Point Guard Zion King, for Charleston Math and Science, had a great game for his team and was the sole reason that the Raptors did not pull through with the win. King, a shifty and short point guard, had many fastbreaks and tough buckets for his team. His short stature made it extremely difficult for the raptors to avoid fouls, and as a result he had many “and ones” that put some of our players in foul trouble, and gave Charleston Math and Science a lot of free buckets. As for the Raptor offensive struggles, the Raptors offense had a ton of turnovers, with over twenty turnovers in total. The turnovers for the Raptors was what really separated the score, and I am sure that is something that head coach Danny Johnson will be looking to fix in the upcoming week. Towards the end of the game, the Raptors played at their best. The perimeter shooting was lights out for the Raptors and there were many players who strived from three. Billy Baer, a star guard for our Raptors, had a quick and very deep three pointer late in the game around the two minute mark to cut the lead down from eight points to five points. This moment gave the Raptors an immense amount of momentum, and had the crowd going bonkers! Star point guard, and coach’s son Jaidon Daley had a great game besides leading his team in turnovers, scoring a ton of tough buckets in the paint, and splashing key threes for the raptors. Jaidon was also crucial in facilitating the passing game, and did great when it came to getting his team involved. On the defensive end of things, it was Bennett Bair who was shining above all, playing good and key fundamental defense and hustling for every loose ball. He also did unfortunately have an airball three but made up for that by hustling for the rest of the game.