As the lights flicker, the players scatter onto the court in warm-up formation to practice lay-ups, and then gradually moving on to hitting jump shots. The players get warmed up as the sound of pumped-up music fills the contest gym.

Getting ready to play Evanston Township High School is one of the most anticipated and important games of the year for West. Evanston is a powerhouse team that is ranked among the top five in the state.

Senior point guard Don Asuncion feels that he and his team are prepared to play Evanston.

“Coming into the game, we are seen as underdogs with a little to no chance of winning. In our eyes we have a great shot in taking them down,” Asuncion said. “Evanston is fresh off of a 30-point defeat against the number seven ranked team in the country, and they are looking to be aggressive right off the bat. As the number three ranked team in the state, a win against Evanston would be huge for the school and the CSL conference if an upset were to happen. It’ll be an exciting match; we’re hungry and prepared.”

Junior Sami Massih has watched Evanston play and has been scouting Evanston’s powerful offense. Their offense is fueled by Purdue commit and point guard Nojel Eastern. Massih believes that with diligence and focus, the Wolves can walk away from the game as winners.

“I feel like we just have to come out and play our game. Our 2-4 record doesn’t really show how good we are. We’ve had some lapses as a team, but I think we are on our way back up,” Massih said. “The key to beating Evanston is playing smart and being physical. Sometimes, we do too much on offense and we dig ourselves into a hole. If we play smart on both sides of the floor, play physical, and play as a team, then I believe we can come out on top with a victory.”

Senior John Lazar is also excited to play this game and see how it turns out.

“They are a great team with great players. They definitely have the size factor to their advantage, but we need to use our plays, quickness, and physicality to our advantage. Playing a team like Evanston requires both physical and mental preparation, which I think is what we are ready for.”

The Niles West Wolves will take on the Evanston Wildkits this Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Contest Gym. Come out to support our Wolves tonight as they give it their all.