Looking up to the home scoreboard to see the final seconds of the season tick away. That is what the Xavier girls basketball team experienced during their Regional Semifinal of the 2020-2021 season. Senior Maddie Steger remembers the loss of last year’s final game to Dubuque Wahlert and keeps it in her mind as the team approaches the postseason. “Last year’s season was not the ending we wanted and this year it’s helping us stay mentally and physically strong and give our all in practice and games so we don’t have the same result,” Steger said. In the regular season, the girls will play 21 games. Head Coach Lilly is focusing both on the final regular season games, as well as preparing for playoffs. “With the way the IGHSAU sets tournament pairings it is important to finish in the top 8 in rankings. The top 8 will get to play at home. Any losses prior to the pairings coming out puts our 7th ranking at risk. So the final games are like a tournament game in importance,” Lilly said. The Saints pulled a big win over Kennedy 70-62 in the second to last regular season game. They hope to use the momentum and build onto it throughout the rest of the season. The first Regional game for the Saints was Wednesday, February 16. If the Saints continue to win, they will play the Semifinal Regional game on Saturday, February 19 and the Regional Final on Tuesday, February 22. After the regionals, the state tournament will begin on March 1 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The team is looking to head to the Wells Fargo Arena for the State Tournament for the first time since the 2018- 19 season, where they lost to Marion in the state quarterfinals. Senior Maya Karl is feeling focused as well as connected with the team. “We all are working our hardest these next couple of weeks knowing that if we don’t it could be the end. We are all super close and that connection helps us all push each other to do our best,” Karl said. The girls are working hard and it is paying on and off the court. Steger says she feels the team is ready to take the postseason on as a strong, connected team. “The team connection is really strong. We are all pulling for each other and putting the team before ourselves. Every successful team needs a good team bond and I think we have that,” Steger said. Head Coach Tom Lilly is ready to see them put all their work together as a team. Overall, the team’s chemistry has greatly contributed to the success of their season so far. With only a few games left in the season, the team continues to work on their chemistry, which will only become more important until the end of their season. “I think overall they are doing well. We talk a lot about fighting adversity and looking to the Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season. This has led to many experts predicting him to be a No. 1 NBA draft choice when he decides to leave Iowa. Both players are significantly important to the growth of sports in Iowa. Kids who look up to Clark and Murray are destined for greatness if they put in the work. The players demonstrate confidence, competitiveness and, most importantly, good character, which should be promoted to the youth. Additionally, it gives kids that live in Iowa hope that one day they can be known nationally for their talents. The regular season will soon come to a close and it will be time for the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA tournament so make sure to catch the Hawks as they prepare. The University of Iowa men’s team on February 17 vs Michigan at Carver-Hawkeye arena at 6 pm and the Iowa women’s team on February 20 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall vs Indiana at 4 pm. future and not the past. Be where your feet are, stay in the moment. No one can retrieve time that has gone by,” Coach Lilly said. The Xavier girls basketball team will play against the winner of Mason City and Marion on Saturday, February 19 at 5:30 p.m. to start off their road to the state tournament held in Des Moines, Iowa. Come support and watch them take on regionals.