Jordan Ganzer

Josh Horwitz dribbles the ball against Parkway West Feb. 2. They defeated the Longhorns 43-27.

Ladue boys basketball defeats SLUH 61-45 in the first semifinal of the district tournament Feb 27. This is their first district championship appearance since 2014.

Going into the game, the boys had a specific game plan because they had played SLUH earlier in the year. Although they lost by 25 in the first meeting, senior Josh Horwitz felt that this game was different.

¨When we faced SLUH in the regular season, our game plan was to slow down the game entirely and try to control the ball,” Horwitz said. “Since that didn’t work, we [played at a] very [fast] pace and tried to push them to make as many mistakes as possible.¨

Ladue will face Chaminade in the championship game. They will continue to stick to their new strategy to try to win another district title.

“We have the same mindset, which is in order to overachieve you have to over believe,” Horwitz said. “The only thing we need to worry about is their fast pace shooting and all their dangerous weapons on offense.¨

Putting this district championship aside, this program has and will continue to teach kids valuable lessons that they can apply to their everyday lives. Horwitz, who has been playing for the program for four years, loves the program.

¨This experience has been my life,¨ Horwitz  said. ¨I’m so grateful for the opportunity, and it really taught me some great lessons about character. I’m honestly just glad to have been part of such an incredible basketball program. After the season I will have no regrets.¨