The student section is jam-packed. Everyone stands shoulder to shoulder, watching the basketball passed back and forth, up and down the court. But it’s hushed. The students seem like they’re standing vigil, concentrating on the game without saying a word. They don’t cheer, even when the  Mavericks score. The score on the board creeps from two, to five, up to eight. Then suddenly the bleachers erupt. Number 10 scored the 10th point; Silent Night is over and the cheering has begun.

On Friday, Jan. 8, boys’ basketball faced Westwood High School in the team’s third district game. It was the annual Silent Night: the student section doesn’t make any noise until the tenth point is scored, after which they cheer loudly. The turnout was big, and the Mavericks delivered with a win of 84 to 67.

“It just makes it a lot more fun to play,” junior guard Victor Bailey said.

Bailey scored the 10th point for the second year in a row and followed it up with a dunk on the next possession, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Westwood played well and demonstrated skill from the three-point line, but McNeil dominated. The team answered when Westwood made shots, and they worked better as a team. There was always someone to clean up a missed shot, or to provide an outlet.

Junior Jonathan Zeiner played well and ended the first half strong for the Mavs with a deep three-pointer, widening the lead to 40 to 28. After halftime, the team continued to outplay Westwood.

“[The win] felt good,” Bailey said. “Westwood’s a rivalry. It’s district. All the games are really important, so it felt even better to get a district win.”

Coach Hagemann recently reached 500 career wins. With his extensive experience, he knows the performance of his team relies on staying level-headed and effective regardless of the environment.

“He told us when there’s a big crowd, just stay calm,” Bailey said. “Some guys get nervous when there’s bigger crowds.”

The team took his advice, working hard as a unit to boost their record to 16 and 5.