However, the team managed to clinch a playoff spot with a much-needed win over Wallenberg on Feb. 13. Leading 16-4 in the first quarter, the Cardinals only scored two points in the second while the Bulldogs caught up, narrowing the lead 18-16. For the rest of the game, the two teams fought over the lead until the Cardinals emerged victorious with a 35-33 score. Junior guard Anthony Clay and junior center Robbie Pollard combined for 19 of those 35 points.

The Cardinals weren’t so lucky in their game against Lincoln on Feb. 6. The Cardinals were clearly unprepared and were crushed 34-46 by the Mustangs. “We just didn’t perform to our game plan and that cost us the game,” junior forward Iwunze Ugo said.

Despite containing Lincoln’s star forward Deend Parker, the Cardinals had 21 turnovers and gave open looks to many of Lincoln’s supporting players, including senior guard Devin Koch, who finished the game with 17 points.

On the offensive end, the entire team made 10 out of 46 shots. “We took too many forced shots and their defense was solid,” senior forwardYuhki Sakai said. “It just wasn’t our day.”

Luckily, the Lincoln game didn’t lower the confidence of the team. “Our confidence hasn’t wavered a bit,” Sakai said. “However, we need to trust each other more and know the fact that we have each other’s backs. Otherwise, we’re not getting far into the playoffs.”

Ugo agreed that the team needed more trust to get far into the playoffs. “We know what it takes to go far in the postseason,” he said. “Next time we’ll be ready.”

A few days before the Lincoln game, the team suffered another tough loss against Marshall on Feb. 2. Faltering in the first half, the boys tried to come back in the second half, but the Phoenix held on to the lead to win the game 56-52.

However, the situation was completely different in the boys’ previous contest, against Washington on Jan. 30 at the Battle of the Birds. The crowd at Kezar Stadium was wild and excited, and the boys did not disappoint, coming out on a 15-0 run in the first quarter. “That run was what kept us going,” senior guard Ari Simon said.

The Cardinals never gave up the lead and defeated the Eagles by a decisive 55-44. Nearly half of those points came from Sakai, who scored 26 points and was 14 of 17 from the free-throw line.

The boys put up an equally valiant effort against Mission on Jan. 27, but this game didn’t result in victory for the team. The Cardinals managed to contain the Bears’ superstar guard DeMaree Hampton, and were up nine points in the fourth quarter. However, the Bears caught up and ended up with a heartbreaking 52-49 victory over the Cardinals.
 

The Cardinals have also been up against another opponent, odds. The team is currently in first place, contradicting the Chronicle's predicted 3rd place finish. Come watch the boys try to beat the odds at 3:45 p.m. today at home against O’Connell.