The boys basketball team suffered a heart-breaking loss Jan. 10 against the 9-3 Wootton Patriots, dropping the game 46-44 after the Patriots scored with less than a second remaining. The defeat lowered the Vikes’ record to 3-8.

The Vikes took an early lead in the first quarter thanks to quick passing and improved teamwork. In the first of many breakaways for the Vikes, guard Billy Lee stole the ball and made a lay-up to bring the team’s total for the quarter to 14 points. The Patriots caught up in the second quarter with aggressive and effective defense and led the Vikes 24-20 at halftime.

The Vikes won back their lead in the second half. Guard Liam Hatch showed off his sharp ball handling, consistently managing to get past Patriot defense for a pass or layup. In the middle of the third quarter, a defender blocked Hatch’s lay-up attempt but forward Daniel Lowet grabbed the ball and scored to give the Vikes the advantage, 32-31.

The Vikes maintained a narrow lead for most of the fourth quarter, but the Patriots shot a three-pointer with two minutes left to tie the score at 42-42. The Patriots scored a layup to give them a lead of 44-42 with fifteen seconds left, but Vikings forward Andrew Castagnetti made two foul shots to even the score up yet again. With coaches incessantly calling time-out, the teams remained neck and neck up until the final second of the game when the Patriots tipped the ball into the basket to give them the lead.

The game was the second straight fourth-quarter loss for the Vikes. Next, they aim to secure a win against the 6-5 Richard Montgomery Rockets away Jan. 13.