Highline’s COVID-delayed men’s basketball season has started with the score Highline 1, opponents 1, COVID 2. 

The Thunderbird men opened their season with an 87-81 loss to Centralia on April 2, followed by a 100-92 win over Grays Harbor on Friday, April 9. 

Two games, against Lower Columbia and Pierce, were cancelled because of COVID infections for those teams. 

The boys are battling playing in a shortened season coupled with the pandemic. Due to COVID, all playoffs and championships will be cancelled for the year. Eligibility will be wiped for the 2020-2021 season, giving each player an extra year of ball. 

Highline Head Coach Che Dawson said that the team is dealing with the delays. 

“The kids want to play, of course. but they are taking it in stride and working hard when we have a game cancelled,” he said. 

He said the team is keeping morale high and continuing to push through as shown by their win last Friday, April 9, against Grays Harbor.

The Thunderbirds ended up on top with a final score of 100-92 in what Coach Dawson said was an offensively beautiful game. 

Their other game played last week ended in a tough loss against Centralia, 87-81. Dawson attributed the loss to defense. Though the Thunderbirds held Centralia to fewer points than they allowed Grays Harbor, Coach Dawson said that they needed more commitment on the defensive end. 

The Highline men’s basketball team will be hosting Tacoma this Friday, April 15 at 3 p.m., followed by another match up against Centralia on Tuesday, April 20 at 3 p.m. Spectators are not allowed in the Pavilion for home games but can watch the men’s team via livestream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpTri-HwLdtRV7LuRFY_Gpg.