Last Friday was the eighth annual Crosstown Showdown against the Rochester Falcons at Oakland University. Both the girls and boys varsity basketball teams played great games in victories over the rival Falcons.

Girls varsity got off to a slow start, but ended up winning their tenth game 38-32, improving to 10-0 overall and 6-0 in the OAA White division. Junior Amber Jamison led the team in scoring with 11 points.

“As a team we had a lot of confidence in each other to make the shots that count,” said junior Raiven Owusso “So in the end when we made a lot of free throws and blocked shots. It was like a little weight was lifted off our shoulders.”

Varsity Boys started off with a high tempo and kept it throughout the game, marching to a dominant 55-34 win over the Falcons. Despite missing leading scorer Akhemji Williams, junior Jordan Wiley stepped up and scored 10 points in his absence. Senior Cameron Flynn led the Highlanders with 11 points.

“We came out at half time and just played well,” said sophomore Spencer Littleson.

The Crosstown Showdown has an atmosphere that is not only enjoyable for the fans, but also for the players. With the huge student section decked in gold to the sing-song chants of “just like football,” the atmosphere feels like that of a college game.

“It’s a lot more fun than normal; the fans are great,” said Wiley.

With young talent stepping up on the boys’ team and continued excellence from the girls’, the Highlanders seem destined for success the second half of the season.