LucyAmbrose

This year marks the tradition of the third annual Warsader game taking place between Marian and Westside. The Crusaders ultimately fell short against the Westside squad who is up with the top three teams in the state. The final score was 60-47 Westside.

Junior Paige Miller led the way for Marian as a predominant scorer with 12 points. “I have fun playing in front of a crowd and it was great that we got to play at home with such a large fan base,” Miller said. 

The Warsader is not just another game on the season schedule. It is a battle for pride with a plaque on the line that the winning school gets to keep until the next year’s face-off. This creates a competitive rivalry between the two teams. To guarantee fairness of the heated game, the home-court advantage alternates each year, this year being held at Marian on Jan. 9. 

The gym was electric, packed with a sea of blue, including a few Marian students who painted themselves in school colors to show their passion for the tradition. Senior Aubrey Thompson described the energy she felt as “just amazing,” adding, “We do not usually have that many people at our games, so having a student section like that was incredible and put us on our best game.”

Despite the loss, Thompson said, “playing teams as strong as Westside helps us to get better.” She also explained that “the Warsader tradition also amps up the student body and brings the athletes in unison with the school, which is why it is so special.”

Former Head Coach Tom Tvrdy echoed this sentiment when he said, “rivalry games like this put extra emphasis and spotlight on the competition, which makes it fun and prepares us for the hype of postseason.” While the team followed a game plan to counter Westside’s strengths, the adjustments were not quite enough. “It really comes down to which players are going to step up for us in that intense kind of atmosphere.” 

For freshman Alivia Kuhn, the game’s intensity did not go unnoticed. “Crowds that are booing me can get into my head because I have never really played in that kind of atmosphere before,” Kuhn said. As a freshman who is already competing at the Varsity level, there is a lot that is new to her. “When we have the Marian girls cheering loudly for us, it pumps up the whole team,” Kuhn shared. 

Kuhn also reflected on the broader meaning of success for a team. “It’s not just about the scoreboard in sports. Although winning is amazing, it’s about how we play, how we support each other and grow as a group. The wins will come as we continue to improve.” 

Tvrdy pointed out a unique trend in the Warsader series: the road team has won each year so far. “When Westside has all their players, they’re a really strong team and hard to compete with. But the competitiveness of this rivalry is what makes it so special.”

The Warsader is about more than a basketball game, it’s an experience that unites the Marian community. 

As the season progresses, the lessons learned from this high stakes matchup will help shape the team’s journey ahead.