Andrew Sidney, senior, glanced up at the MHS student section, clad in bright yellow banana suits for senior night.

He looked down at the bouquet of flowers in his hand and then, with a bittersweet look in his eye, smiled back at the fruit-themed students.

The 6’6” goggle-eyed center took the long walk across MHS’ hardwood gymnasium and hugged his mother as head coach Kevin Schultz described him as the intellectual one on the team.

“It was sad,” he said. “I’m going to miss playing at Marquette. It was amazing hearing the Stang Gang cheer, hearing my coach describe me as I walked across the court. My mom was crying a little when I gave her a hug at the end.”

After the festivities, the boys basketball team (15-9) found themselves trailing the Parkway North Vikings (5-19) by two at the end of the first quarter of last Monday’s contest. The squad hadn’t played since February 13’s win over Eureka, and it showed.

The Mustangs’ usual strength, three-point-shooting, turned into a weakness as they missed all eight three-point attempts in the second quarter.

Center Sean McCracken, senior, scored all eleven points during the team’s second quarter shooting drought and ended the night with 28-points.

Where the Mustangs struggled, the Vikings capitalized.

Parkway North point guard Carl Jones, senior, finished the night with a game high 29-points and at the end of the first half, the Vikings led MHS 26-19.

Despite limiting turnovers, the Vikings didn’t miss and at the end of the third quarter, the Mustangs were down by twelve.

During the fourth, the Mustangs flipped the switch, hitting three-ball after three-ball and shooting 100% from within the arc.

MHS outscored the Vikings 24-11 in the fourth and led by four with only a few seconds left. But Jones drove and knocked down a three from what seemed like impossible range to put the lead to one.

The Mustangs missed their final free throw on purpose causing North to chuck up a last second shot that fell wide left.

After last night’s win over Ritenour, the Mustangs look ahead to tomorrow’s match up at Seckman (10-12).