Gallery • 6 Photos

Jessica Streich

Senior Sean Deng performs one of the team's pre-game rituals, dancing in the middle of his teammates to pump up the crowd.

A sea of white fills the stands and silence fills the air. Not a word is heard from the Carlsbad loud crowd, until senior Chase Ogden scores the tenth point with only a few minutes left in the first quarter. This basket caused Lancer Arena to erupt with noise.

The boys varsity basketball team took on Vista Jan. 29, and did not fail to bring the heat. Carlsbad’s Associated Student Body hosted the annual white-out and silent night game, which required loud crowd to gather all of their white clothing and stay quiet until the Lancers scored their tenth point. The sound in the gym reached new heights as the fans cheered throughout the close game.

“There was a lot of hype and pressure going into this matchup, playing against the team we lost to at last year’s white-out game,” senior Sean Deng said. “We worked hard at practice, running their sets and stimulating their defense against our offense. It felt great to win.”

At last years game, the Lancers failed to bring home the win, however the extra work put in this season paid off. This could be seen by everyone in the stands, since Carlsbad kept the lead throughout the majority of the game. The loud crowd brought the energy and the seniors kept the chants coming all night long.

“I think this has been the best game of the season so far. It was great to be in the crowd and experience the high energy coming from everyone around me,” junior Collin Burke said. “In comparison to last year, I think our school has come together a lot and our basketball team’s talent is shining.”

While it was clear the basketball team stepped up to the plate, Carlsbad’s ASB did as well. Not only were the stands filled with white, they were able to do so in the middle of the week on a Wednesday. The school spirit prevailed throughout Carlsbad’s signature “Go Bananas” and “Rollercoaster” cheers. From the newspaper shreds flying through the air, to the cheerleaders captivating the gym with their routines, ASB outdid themselves once again. This event raised the bar high for second-semester athletics.

“This is a memory I will never forget, I am so happy with what ASB has done to make our senior year so memorable and so special,” senior Morgan Sizemore said. “This basketball game shows how much spirit our school has and our boys really performed well.”

With the final score being 58-49, the Lancers were able to continue their winning streak. The loud crowd will keep cheering on the team as they face new opponents throughout the rest of the season, hoping to keep their momentum going.

“It felt unreal playing in the game and winning,” senior Sean Deng said. “The crowd boosted our spirit and it’s always a good thing when the whole school is supporting you. As a senior, that means everything.”