Riggs Winn, a sophomore on the Sunlake varsity basketball team, had an impressive first home game against Angeline High School. The Sunlake squad dominated from start to finish, ultimately securing a commanding 72–12 victory. But behind the blowout score is the work that goes into preparing for every game—both as a team and as individual players.

According to Riggs, the foundation of their success starts long before game day. “Our preparation first starts in our practices every day where we train and work hard,” he said. Practices focus on conditioning, shooting, defensive principles, and running plays until they feel natural. By the time game day arrives, the players already have hours of focused work behind them.

Once it’s game day, the coaching staff reviews strategies and watches old film with the team to identify what needs to be adjusted. After that, the players enjoy a pre-game meal to make sure they’re fueled and ready to perform. As tip-off gets closer, Riggs and his teammates head to the gym to stretch, warm up, and mentally prepare for what’s ahead.

For Riggs, mindset is everything. “My mindset going into the game was to give 100% effort and to trust what we have worked on in practice,” he said. The team carried that positive approach into the game, and the loud, energized crowd only added to their motivation. Every cheer, every reaction to a big shot or a defensive stop helped fuel the players on the court.

Riggs felt confident in his performance on both ends of the floor. “I feel that I played well offensively and defensively, hitting some shots and getting some steals while also looking for my teammates,” he said. As a team, he believes Sunlake excels at executing plays and sticking to their defensive principles.

With such a large lead by the fourth quarter, Riggs think he got “a little lazy” at the end—not out of disrespect, but simply because the score created a relaxed atmosphere and that’s something that can be worked on. Still, even with a slight dip in intensity, the players stayed focused enough to close out the game strong. Their early hard work and discipline had already set the tone, and the team walked away proud of the effort they put in.

Overall, the game reflected Sunlake’s preparation, talent, and commitment. It was a great win, and for Riggs, an exciting start to the season.