Gallery • 11 Photos

media by Quinn Barton

Varsity point guard Cooper Ellwood ‘27 shoots in the jungle against the Chaparral Wolverines at 7 p.m. Jan 24. The Jags are 1-1 in the 6A/5A Continental League. Cooper Ellwood is a sibling of former Jag Hudson Ellwood. “I feel good about the chap game, everyone expected us to get blown out and we were up most of the game,” Ellwood said. “Definitely see this as a growing point as Chap is a really good team and we proved we can compete and have chances to win.”

It’s 7 p.m. Jan. 24 and there is a face-off in the Jungle. The floor is shiny and the stands are full. Two teams, the Chaparral Wolverines and the Jags play for the win. As the gym begins to fill, students enter dressed in Hawaiian gear, the assigned theme from the Golden Boys. 

“The reason I like going to basketball games is because I think it’s a fun way to get out and hang with friends and have a good time,” Canyon Crazy Grayson Cole ‘26 said. 

Last season the Jags played for the league championship title, only to lose against the Wolverines 72-59 in overtime.   

According to MaxPreps as of Feb. 3, the Wolverines are ranked second in the league while the Jags remain third. 

After tip off the Jags took the lead and ended the first quarter with a score of 19-14 Jags. 

“My highlight in that game was hitting a three on the first possession of the game,” Guard Kasen Lehman ‘25 said. 

The halftime performance was from the feature baton twirler Jaylyn Luber ‘27 and they ended the first half with a score of 33-31 Jags remained in the lead. 

“Performing at halftime is such a thrilling experience. When the crowd screams and cheers, it gives me so much energy and drive to be the best I can be,” Luber said. “I definitely get nervous, but I love my sport and this is my dream to be able to perform at my high school.” 

The third quarter ended with a score of 46-45 Jags in the lead, but the Wolverines were right behind.

Throughout the second half, there were pauses for timeouts and multiple times called by both teams. 

“I think we can improve on coming out in the 4th quarter with more effort and not letting the other team get us on our heels. I see that game as a big growing point of our season,” Guard Davis May ‘26 said. 

Despite the time outs, the Jags ended the fourth quarter with a loss of 70-65. 

Some highlights from the game were Guard Kasen Lehman ‘25 scoring 26 points and Guard Jacob David ‘27 scoring 18 points.

“Although we didn’t win, it was a big step in the right direction, and we proved to ourselves that we could play with the best teams in the state,” Guard Avery Vasquez ‘27 said.

As of press time, the Jags are ranked fifth in the Continental 5A/6A, while the Wolverines are ranked second.