The Warriors were heading into February with a 12-5 record. The Warriors started the season off with a discouraging loss in an out-of-league game with Northville. The Warriors fell to them in a big loss 66-43. Following the loss, the boys knew something needed to be done and there needed to be some changes before the next game.
The next game up was a very hyped-up match between Woodhaven and Edsel Ford. Last year the matchup between these two teams ended in tragedy. A brawl erupted between players and eventually fans started to get involved as well. Multiple players received injuries from this as well as being suspended from their team for a certain amount of games.
Right before the game, every player on Woodhaven’s team knew what was at stake and how big of a game it would be because of what happened last year during this match-up. To make the environment even worse for the Warriors they were playing away in a packed out crowd. The game went back and forth all night until eventually the Warriors won by three points and secured their first win of the season.
Following that win the Warriors went on to beat Carlson and Taylor. The next biggest matchup they faced was Trenton. The boys played them away. There was a large crowd there to cheer the opposing team on but ultimately they fell short and lost to the Trojans.
The next stretch of games was very important to the Warriors to figure out who they were as a team and how to flow well together. They played a very talented Lincoln Park and the Warriors won at the buzzer with a game-winning shot to win 45-43
Following the big win to Lincoln Park the boys went on to play six away games in a row. Three of them were league games, the others were out-of-league matchups. They beat Southgate High School by one point. As well as Livonia Stevenson by seven and Wyandotte by 31. Unfortunately, they lost to other teams such as Notre Dame Prep, Ann Arbor Skyline, and a big league matchup with Allen Park.
Following the loss to Allen Park the Warriors needed to pick things back up if they wanted to win the league. They went on to win four league games in a row to keep their chances of winning the league alive. There were three teams all tied for first, Woodhaven, Allen Park, and Lincoln Park.
The whole team knew if they wanted to win the league outright and not have to share they were going to have to win out the rest of the season for all of their league games.
Starting February the season did not start as planned. The boys traveled to Lincoln Park to face them which could determine who wins the league. That game was a huge Down-river League match-up that didn’t go as planned for Woodhaven. They played a very physical game but ended up losing in the end. All of the players did not perform to their fullest and overall the energy was low and it was too late to catch up to the lead Lincoln Park built.
Winning the league is very important to every coach and player downriver. The league title adds to your accolades as well as providing you some help in the playoffs. Winning the league gives you a first-round bye in the district round of playoffs. Not having to play that game gives teams the ability to go and scout other teams playing that night as well as giving your body the rest that it needs.
The next few games are still very important to the Warriors. There’s still Southgate for the snowball game, Wyandotte, and Allen Park for senior night.
The boys won against Southgate in a very physical snowball game. There was a packed crowd with a lot of intensity in the game. Multiple technical fouls were given out due to how intense the game became. The next game is an out-of-league matchup against Thurston High School. Last year the Warriors took that same matchup to double overtime but secured the win.
Overall, the Warriors are looking strong heading towards the playoffs. Districts are in Monroe this year compared to it being home last year which is an adjustment for the team. They are in place to get a first-round bye which is very helpful towards making a successful playoff run.
