Junior guard Jonathan Li goes up for a contested layup in the paint during the Cardinals' 54-45 Battle of the Birds victory over Washington on Jan. 27. Photos by Daniel Green
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The shots just weren’t falling for the boys’ varsity basketball team during the annual Battle of the Birds game against Washington on Friday night, but it didn't make a difference in the end with a 54-45 Lowell victory.

The Cardinals made up for a dismal night from the floor the same way they have in so many games this season — with quick compact defense. Although Lowell shot only 29 percent from the floor on the night, the team did not allow Washington to ever take significant advantage of the Cardinal shortcomings. No Eagles player tallied in double figures, with senior guards CJ Avery and Dane Vande Guchte coming closest with 8 points apiece. "We did a good job of keeping our composure on defense," senior guard Bryan Robinson said. "Coach told us to play rather conservatively on the defensive end and let them take the shots we could live with."

Ultimately however, it was composure from the free-throw line that pushed the team past Washington for the first Battle of the Birds victory since 2008. The Cardinals shot 25 for 30 from the foul line — an impressive 83 percent. Senior center Jackson Miao, who scored a team-high 16 points, knocked down 10 of those on free throws, including 7 in the fourth quarter to help put the game out of the Eagles’ reach.

Robinson was the best shooter during a running play for Lowell, with a 50 percent field goal percentage and two three-pointers en route to a 13 point game. Senior guard Avery Nicastro-Aikman also swished in double figures with 11 points.

Having played most of Academic Athletic Association's elite and currently sitting in a first-place tie with Galileo for the Neff division lead, the team has the rest of the season to prepare for the Lang division team it will face in the playoffs — most likely Marshall, Lincoln or Mission, all three of which beat the Cardinals by comfortable margins earlier in the season. Despite the losses, the team remains confident, according to Robinson. "We don't see the teams we've lost to in the last few games as unbeatable," he said. "As long as we play smart Lowell basketball, we should be fine."

Come support the team at 4 p.m. on Jan. 31 as they take on the Balboa Buccaneers at Balboa.