After about two thirds of the season, this year’s boys basketball team is struggling. They currently have 6 wins and 10 losses, and are in the bottom three of the Hoosier Hills Conference. East has a tough upcoming game against No. 6 in the state, New Albany.

The New Albany Bulldogs are also facing a struggle of their own. Romeo Langford, team leader and No. 3 player in the nation in the 2018 class, according to ESPN, is out for two weeks due to a dislocated finger on his shooting hand. Last year he averaged 30.2 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game, and New Albany won the state championship.

This year the Bulldogs are leading the HHC with 16 wins and 2 losses. Without Langford the Bulldogs are losing their leading scorer and rebounder, so an away game against East will give them a challenge.

The Olympians’ leading scorers this season are Tanner McFall with 10.9 points per game and Jonathan Foster with 10.2 points per game. McFall and Foster are leading the team in almost every stat line this year. McFall is at the top of the rebounds, steals and blocks per game lists, and Foster is the best in assists per game.

With sectionals coming soon the Olympians are looking for a key win to boost their confidence going into the postseason. Senior leader Jonathan Foster believes that they can attain this win with tough defense and hustle.

“We will need to box out and hustle hard, as New Albany is a very athletic group of guys,” Foster said. “We also need to play tough defense and make sure none of their other players have a big scoring night.”

The game will take place at East this Saturday, February 4. JV starts at 12:30.