As we get closer to March, it means one thing: meaningful basketball. For the FVHS men’s basketball team, it’s crunch time as they compete in the conference tournament followed by a potential berth in the state playoffs. The team will need to lock in if they want to go on a run this postseason.

The Bengals finished the regular season with a record of 12-10 overall and 9-5 in conference play, which was good enough to give them the third seed in the conference tournament. The team doesn’t feel like their regular season record is indicative of what they can accomplish in the long run. 

¨I believed that our team underperformed in the regular season. Our record does not represent who we are as a team. I think the playoffs are going to display what this team can really do, and any team that gets matched up with us in the first round is in for a tough game,¨ said senior power forward Andrew Schneider. 

The Bengals defeated Cleveland High School for the third time this season in the first round of the conference tournament. Senior Dylan Setzer led the way for Fuquay, putting up 31 points en route to the Bengals beating the Rams by a score of 60-39. The Bengals got a third chance at beating Southeast Raleigh on Wednesday in the conference tournament semifinals. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs seem to have the Bengals’ number this season as Southeast Raleigh won the matchup for the third time with a score of 64-54. 

As far as the state playoffs go, the Bengals are currently projected to be the 28th overall seed in 4A East and have a first-round matchup at Holly Springs. Obviously, a lot of things can change with the conference tournaments currently taking place, but the buildup and atmosphere for a potential rivalry playoff matchup between these schools will be massive. 

¨I invite a rematch against Garner or Holly Springs as we have played them before and I know that we can beat both teams,¨ explained Schneider. ¨A Holly Springs playoff game is such a rivalry and would bring so much energy to that gym in which anything can happen. I would not be surprised if we make a run in the playoffs this year.¨

The Bengals know that gelling together as a team is the key to success. That added to a survive and advance mentality is how a playoff run can take place.

¨In the games, we win, and we play much better as a team. Now that every game is either win or go home, we´ve been playing with that mentality. The chemistry of our team will be the reason we pull off an upset in the playoffs,¨ said Setzer. 

The first round of the state playoffs will be on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The Bengals will learn who they will face this Saturday when the official 4A playoff bracket comes out.