On Thursday night, February 10, the Lafayette Generals boys basketball team arrived at the Jackson-Carlisle gymnasium with ambition- to secure a win to put an end to their losing streak and to pay tribute to Dance Blue, For The Kids (FTK). FTK is an organization that supports kids with cancer and the Kentucky Children’s Hematology and Oncology clinics. The boys ended up achieving a 66-63 win against the Lexington Christian Academy Eagles (LCA) and brought the energy needed to fuel the Generals mini dance marathon coming up on Saturday.

“The student section had a HUGE impact and without them, I don’t know if we would have won. We feed off of their energy and when there are a lot of people cheering us on it helps us get us in the zone- We want to win for the students,” commented Junior starter Jack Ackermann after the game.

The game began with the Generals full of determination and spirit. You could tell from the opening tip-off that the Generals were eager to emerge victorious.

“We (Lafayette) had stressed transition offense and limiting turnovers, but most importantly rebounding. They were a lot smaller than us and if we got out-rebounded we would not have won the game,” continued Ackermann.

Jayd Huynh, Javon Adams, Demarcus Surratt, Jack Ackermann, and Abe Nelson started for the Generals. Ackermann said that “Abe is the captain and he is a strong leader that everyone looks up to, including me,” the Generals ended the first quarter in the lead 16-12.

The Generals did not score in the second quarter allowing the Eagles to rack up some points. Lafayette ended the first half down by one point, 16-17. The third quarter ended with Lafayette gaining the upper hand in the game: 23-16, their largest lead of the night.

The final minutes of the game were all but mild. The environment was competitive and intense to see who would emerge victoriously.

“I feel like we matched up well. They got the first game against us and we got this second one, now we play them again in the district tournament for the game that really matters,” said Ackermann about the matchup. In the fourth quarter, the Generals scored 11 points but conceded 18. Fortunately, the baskets from the first three quarters were enough to surpass LCA. When the final whistle blew, the Lafayette Generals celebrated their first win since January 8 when they faced East Jessamine at Garrard County and won 73-39. Ackerman said he was “…most proud that we never quit even when facing adversity. LCA went on a few runs but we stayed in there and ended up coming out with the [win].”

Notable star players from Thursday night were Abe Nelson, Jack Ackerman, and Jayd Huynh. Nelson had an incredible night with 27 points, 12 field goals, 11 rebounds, and made six three-pointers. In addition to his baskets, he had three assists. Ackerman tallied 18 points with 12 field goals, four defensive rebounds, and one assist. Not far behind his two teammates, Huynh ended the game scoring 15 points with nine field goals, eight assists, and one rebound.

Two days later, February 12, the Lafayette Generals traveled to Oldham County to play Newport High School. The Generals won 72-61, capturing consecutive victories for the first time of the season. Lafayette was also scheduled to play Henry Clay on February 15, but that did not tip-off by press time.

The Lafayette Generals’ next games are on February 18, 7:30 pm at Jackson-Carlisle gymnasium against the Frederick Douglass Broncos and February 22, 8:00 pm at Jackson-Carlisle gymnasium versus the Lexington Christian Academy Eagles in the 43rd District Boys Basketball Tournament.