Basketball Recap: Jeremiah Matthews' Big Game Can't Quite Lead West over Heights

West was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their ninth straight loss. The contest between the West Pioneers and the Heights Falcons didn't end well, with the West Pioneers falling 56-41. While losing is never fun, the Pioneers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Kansas basketball rankings (they are ranked 232nd in Kansas, while the Falcons are ranked 19th in Kansas).

Several Pioneers players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Jeremiah Matthews, who went 5-for-10 to rack up 12 points and seven boards. Treg Hardeman also deserves some recognition as he posted his first block of the season.

Pioneers

Offensive Rebounds

02/21/25 vs Heights	13
02/18/25 @ Northwest	10
02/14/25 vs Kapaun Mt. Carmel	2
02/07/25 vs Bishop Carroll	3
02/04/25 vs Southeast	10
+ 14 more games

Even though they lost, West smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive boards. That's the most offensive rebounds they've posted since back in February of 2024.

Amalachi Wilkins was his usual excellent self, almost dropping a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds for Heights. Wilkins is also on a roll when it comes to field goal percentage, as he's posted one of at least 50% in the last eight games he's played. Isaiah Carter was another key player, putting up eight points and 12 boards.

West's defeat dropped their record down to 3-15. As for Heights, the victory was the seventh in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 17-1.

West didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next game, a 68-38 win against North on the 25th. As for Heights, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next match, a 56-53 loss against Kapaun Mt. Carmel on the 25th.