Two schools on an almost equal level went at it head to head on Jan. 12.

The Minooka Indians sophomore basketball team faced the Stagg Chargers. The Indians came out on top with a final score of 44-43.

It was a close game the whole time, going back and forth not knowing who would walk out with the W. Both teams never quit .

“We didn’t play the best defense but we came together and never stopped fighting,” sophomore Joseph Oyola said.

Oyola is a team leader for Minooka’s sophomores. He makes sure his boys stay positive and don’t start to look down and lose themselves in the game.

“We didn’t play our best, but a win is a win,” D.J. Hampton, sophomore, said. 

Hampton also got a deflection that ended up selling the game for them in the end. 

“The guys really fought hard the entire game,” coach Jason Boe said. “It was back and forth throughout the game, and I thought our team really stepped up and showed they’ve learned how to win close games.”

Both coaches’ hearts must have been pounding like crazy ,but coach Boe did end up coming on top because of the commitment his team put in.

Kevin Bisbee hit the game-sealing 3 with 16 seconds left, and Hampton deflected the ball to win it. No matter what the boys kept their focus and kept on playing till the buzzer.