On Dec. 3, 2024, the West High boys’ basketball team kicked off their season against the Clear Creek Amana Clippers. In a 63-44 win, senior Jack McCaffery led the scoring with 17 points, and junior Julian Manson had eight rebounds, five of which were offensive.
They built on that momentum to win two more games in a row against Davenport West and Burlington. After a strong 3-0 start, they had to travel to Cedar Falls, where the state’s number one team awaited them.
The Trojans had a strong first half, keeping the game close, but they lost 39-61, marking their first loss of the season. In the next game, the Trojans headed east to Dubuque to face a top 3A team in Dubuque Wahlert. The game went back and forth until a last-second three-point shot from junior Ethan Headings rolled out at the buzzer, and the Trojans fell 56-57.
Since that game, they found a rhythm, winning four straight games, including huge wins over city rivals Liberty and City High. Over this time, the Trojan offense has found its footing, averaging 74 points per game during the win streak, as opposed to the 60.2 points per game they averaged across the first five games of the season. Unfortunately, however, after facing Dubuque Senior Jan. 14, they lost their streak and fell 51-52.
The Trojans will look to stay hot as the second half of the season approaches. They have many big games, including a home rematch against Cedar Falls on Feb. 7. They will resume action against the Prairie Hawks on Jan. 17.
