After an eventful filled week of basketball last week, Southwest boys varsity basketball is focusing on continuing the momentum of last week’s 73-49 victory over Kearney, to a top 10 matchup with cross town rival, the North Star Navigators, on January 31, at Lincoln North Star High School with tip off at 7:30 p.m.

However, a new challenge faces the Silver Hawks: the duo of Donovan Williams and Kwat Abdelkarim. 

Williams is a senior guard/forward and 4 star recruit that has offers from colleges like Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas, and others. Williams averages 25.6 PPG and 10.8 RPG for the Gators. Additionally, Abdelkarim is junior guard who averages 19.7 PPG and 3.7 APG.

“Against Donovan and Kwat, we can’t bail them out by fouling” said sophomore guard Jared Bohrer. “We have to play solid defense and give them the toughest shots possible.”

The Navigator duo has been to the free throw line a lot this year. Williams averages 12 free throw attempts per game and is a 75% free throw shooter and Abdelkarim averages 8.5 free throw attempts per game is a 76% free throw shooter.

There will be another key for LSW to win against North Star: energy. A trait the Silver Hawks believed to aid them to victory against Kearney.

“A key for our team will be our energy,” said senior forward Brayton Christensen. “On defense, we need to have the same ball pressure and communication that we had in the Kearney game. On offense, if we continue to swing the ball and execute, we’ll be successful”

In addition, Bohrer harped on the Hawks energy as well.

“Kearney was our most focused game of the year,” said Bohrer. “We had tons of energy from everyone, including the bench and played together… my own personal key [for the North Star game] will be to lead by example and create energy for the team. As a leader, our energy and focus definitely starts with me.”

The Southwest Student Fan Federation has announced that the theme for the game for students will be “Purple and Gold” to honor the late Kobe and Gianna Bryant who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash this past Sunday, January 26.