by Canaan Freeman| Staff writer
With a win against Lee, the Jags have clinched their first ever playoff berth. Fresh off their best regular season in school history, the Jags will prepare to play the number eight seed in the city. The Jags have a tough road ahead as they are playing the heavily favored Judson Rockets. Johnson ended their season as the number three seed in district, behind Reagan and Churchill. Momentum has swung in the Jags favor thanks to their victory over Lee. Preparations are being made for their first round game against Judson.
“Overall our preparations are the same going into the playoffs. It’s a one game shot, you have to make a game plan for that one team and it’s one and done. We will spend a lot more time preparing for that one team,” Coach Jay Keller said.
Ending the season with a win over Lee gave the Jags the swagger they need to make a deep run into the playoffs. With a district record of 7-4, the Jags are one of the three dominant teams that the district has. Leading into the playoffs, the Jags look to come away with an upset victory over Judson. The pre-season goals for the Jags were to get to the playoffs and to be playing their best basketball going into the playoffs.
“Our number one goal was to get to the playoffs and our second goal was to be playing well heading into the playoffs. I feel like we have reached both of those goals and I think we are playing our best basketball right now,” Keller said.
Now, having a spot in the playoffs, players will try to live up to the hype that comes with a run into the playoffs. Not being able to clinch that second spot in district, a win in the playoffs would put all of that behind. Johnson faces off with Judson on Tuesday, February 21st, at 6 pm at Clemens H.S.
“We have been playing good basketball and we want to carry that over to the playoffs. As a senior I must play every game like its my last,” senior Joey Louwagie said.
