In a matchup between school rivals, the Blue Valley Northwest boys varsity basketball team defeated Blue Valley North 53-52.

Going into the game, head coach Aaron Ihm said Blue Valley North’s record of 14-2 did not change their mindset.

“Records don’t really mean much…it just comes down to who’s the best team in the postseason,” Ihm said. “We felt like our schedule is a really strong one.”

To prepare for the game, lead scorer of the game, junior Joey Matteoni, said the team watched film and worked on limiting straight-line drives. Additionally, he said the team did not play their best in their last matchup against Blue Valley High.

“Against Blue Valley, we did not play as well as we wanted to and we let up [more] points [than] we have in other games,” Matteoni said. “All of practice we’re focusing on defense and it showed.”

The Huskies trailed the Mustangs at the end of the first quarter, 15-8, but gained a lead they held for most of the game. Ihm said the team was able to compete throughout the whole game.

“I think they just battled through some stuff,” Ihm said. “There were a lot of things we could have done better, but they just competed.”

In the last minute of the final quarter, the Huskies’ lead was down to only a few points. Ihm said he made sure the team stayed focused during this time in the game.

“They had plenty of energy, it was more just locked down focus,” Ihm said. “It should never have got to that point where it was, so I think it was just making sure that we got out of there without it really coming back to get us.”

The Huskies managed to maintain their lead and defeated BVN 53-52.

BVNW will play their last league game of the season on Feb. 24, against St. James Academy. The game will take place at Blue Valley Northwest at 7 p.m.