In a back and forth game Friday night, the boys basketball team (13–9) was defeated by the Magruder Colonels (17–5) 59–55.

It was a slow start for the Vikes, who only scored two points in the first five minutes of the game and trailed 10–2 in the opening minutes. The team kept the game close throughout the quarter, but Magruder took a 15–7 lead into the second quarter.

The team could not contain Magruder forward Ebby Asamoah Jr. who drained three threes in the second quarter and propelled the Colonels to take a 34–26 lead into halftime.

The Vikes fought back however, with Josh Weinberg hitting a three to cut the deficit to one point with Magruder leading 37–36 with 3:40 left in the third quarter. Neither team could pull ahead in the third, but the Vikes had the edge at the end of the quarter when forward Jason Lewis hit a three at the buzzer to allow the team to take a 46–45 lead into the fourth quarter.

Magruder started to pull away with three minutes left in the game, but Vikes guard Kai Holloway hit a three to get Whitman back within two points, trailing 54–52 with 2:35 left in the game. Both teams exchanged threes on their next possessions with Magruder leading 57–55 with under one minute remaining. The Vikes forced a turnover with 30 seconds left and ran down the court looking to tie. However, the Vikes turned the ball over with 11 seconds left to force the team to foul. Asamoah Jr. hit both free throws to ice the game and give the Colonels a four point win.

The team next plays the Wheaton Knights (1–19) in the first round of the playoffs Friday, March 1 at 7:15pm at home.