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The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
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Thriving for success

Wildcats light up Packers from three
Landen Swift, Staff reporter
February 24, 2025
Landen Swift
Shooting the ball in the air, senior guard Jayden Kozney sinks the ball in the hoop. Offensively, Kozney led the way in scoring and finding open shots to take to help lead the team to victory. “I try to get in a rhythm early because it makes sure I stay that way throughout the whole game,” Kozney said. “My teammates also come into play for the success I had throughout that game because they gave me open looks that gave me opportunities to be aggressive.”

On Friday, Feb. 14, the Millard West boys basketball team took to the hardwood eager to gain another victory after defeating Omaha Bryan 103-64 just three days before. 

Both teams entered the game with losing records and looking to claim victory. Millard West (6-13) and Omaha South (4-16). Both teams have struggled to come away with some prominent victories. 

“We haven’t had things go exactly the way we wanted it to throughout the season but we’ve found ways to stay in games,” head coach Bill Morrison said. “Our offensive side of the ball was working really well but the defense didn’t work as well as I wanted it to and we need both of those to work well in order for us to win games.”

The Wildcats came out hot early with scoring 19 points early in the first quarter as the Packers only withheld nine points. The second quarter was a little different as both teams were scoring points back and forth but Omaha South was being held up more by West’s defensive efforts which led to 36-20 Wildcat lead going into the locker room. 

Helping lead the way junior Vincent Long found ways to get himself to the hoop and be one of top scorers in the game. 

“We were running a different offense that was put in for the type of defense they ran,” Long said. “There was a lot of open space and I was able to find them well and convert at the right time I needed to.”

In the second half the Packers needed a spark to make sure to keep the Wildcats balanced enough on the offensive and defensive side of the ball to give them a lead. That wasn’t the case, they would score almost equal amount of points in the second half but not enough to keep up with the Wildcats. The Packers scored 12 points in the third quarter compared to the Wildcats that scored 13 points.

Throughout the fourth quarter each team was keeping each other balanced in both aspects offense and defense. The hot start that the Wildcats gained in the first half helped lead them and kept them ahead through the second half. The Wildcats went on to defeat the Packers 68-50. 

The Wildcats now try to finish the season out strong as the postseason is around the corner and they look to have the close games that they have played all year and fall short in, to have those heartbreaking losses turn in the Wildcats favor during the postseason. They start districts this Saturday.

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About the Contributor
Landen Swift
Landen Swift, Staff Reporter
Landen is a senior and is involved with being a Wildcat Crazy here at Millard West. He is also involved in the Millard West Yearbook. He enjoys watching and taking pictures of sports events for Millard West. He hopes to improve his film taking and interviewing skills through the year.