Homestead dribbles past Cedarburg

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Emma Zander

Homestead wins against Cedarburg 63-41 and was led by Jaylen Key, senior, with 20 points. Homestead has won its last five games and looks to start their home tournament on Friday. On a night that saw Mitchell Sutton, senior, out with illness, Key remarked that “it’s important for players to be ready to step up at any given time.”

Whether it be driving to the hoop, pulling up for a short shot or heaving up a three pointer, Homestead could do no wrong Friday night. A seasoned Homestead team outpaced a youthful but talented Cedarburg team all night long on its way to a 63-41 victory.

Homestead is now on a five-game winning streak after its season opening loss to Muskego.  Jaylen Key, senior, has led the team in scoring all year long and continued that Friday, dropping 20 points, 4 points above his season average.  Nick Allen, senior, provided depth for Homestead as he scored 12 points off the bench.  Jacob Urban, junior, added the deep threat for Homestead as he drained three big 3’s. “Mitch was sick all week, and Urban had to step up and start. He did a good job and knocked down some big shots to get us going as a team,” Key said. Jack Popp, junior, then closed out the top four scorers with 8 points, just one point under his season average.

In a game that saw a vast rebounding margin, Homestead was also able to go deep in their bench towards the end of their game. “It’s important for us to get off to a good start so players who do not usually get a chance to play get into the game. It gives those players confidence and they deserve it for pushing us (the starters) everyday in practice,” Key said.

A key highlight of the game was a buzzer-beater by Jake Lappin, senior, right before halftime. “I really didn’t know how much time was left after I got the ball, so I tried to shoot as soon as possible. I just wanted to give it a chance, so I was shocked when it went in,” Lappin said.

This victory elevates Homestead to 4-0 in conference play.  “We came out and did what we needed to do with getting off to a good start and controlling the game all the way through,” Cameron Marotta, senior point guard, said.

The next game for the boys basketball team is on Friday, Dec. 26 when they take off against New Berlin West in a home tournament that weekend. Homestead then has the possibility of facing off against their only loss this season, Muskego, as Homestead plays the winner of the Muskego versus West Bend West game.  “We need to build on this little stretch we have going right now, and we need to keep improving in practice every day,” Marotta said.