The basketball teams will compete in their last home games Tuesday night as they take on Frisco. For the girls, the district championship has been clinched, and the team looks to prepare for the playoffs. For the boys, it couldn’t be any different.

Along with it being Senior Night, the boys team will be eyeing revenge. The Raccoons gave the team its only blemish of the district season, defeating the team 67-64 in a game that ended with some controversy.

“We have to approach it and prepare for it like it is a normal game,” senior guard Bradley Saad said. “But with all this on the line, it’s far from just a normal game.”

Frisco is looking to get into the playoff race, currently one game behind Centennial for the final playoff spot. A win tonight and loss by the Titans would give the team an inside track for that place.

Adding to those storylines, the team will also have the chance to clinch the district title Tuesday. Usually teams try to treat all games the same, but that’s not the case for the boys.

“It’s not a normal game,” boys’ head basketball coach Marcus Eckert said. “At the same time we have to approach every game like it’s a ‘normal game’. Every game we approach, we want it to be equivalent to a state championship, with the same focus, energy, intensity, selflessness, and preparation. Is it normal? No. Is it going to be awesome? Yes. A great atmosphere is what makes high school sports about, and our approach will be the same as we always make it.”

Eckert says the team has learned from the previous encounter, and the team is prepared to play.

“The number one adjustment is that we’re going to play hard,” Eckert said. “We didn’t step off the bus at Frisco. Number two, we’re going to do a better job of running the shooters off the line and identifying where they’re located and making it tough to get their outside shots going. They were 15/18 from the three point line against Wakeland on Friday night. When they shoot the ball well, they win. We have to force them to put it on the floor and take it to the paint against our big guys.”

Many of the seniors are excited for the night and the occasion.

“I’m more excited than sad to celebrate what all of our class has done for four years,” senior Cameron Kurak said. “I’m also ready to win a big game in a playoff atmosphere.”

“I’m excited for the night, after playing basketball for nearly 13 years,” senior Nick Wartluft said. “It’s not only one of the last times I will be able to play basketball, but also one of the final times I can be with my brothers on the court.”