After a rough start, varsity boys basketball bounced back to snag a playoff spot for the second year in a row.

“We’re really confident in going to the playoffs,” senior Patrick Jbeili said. “I want to make it farther than last year.”

The boys opened up district with back-to-back losses to Dripping Springs and Leander. They would post a 63-40 win over Marble Falls next, but then lose to Cedar Park by one.

“We feel disappointed because we felt that we had the team to beat Cedar Park,” Jbeili said. “We let the game slip away from us.”

They closed the first round with back-to-back wins, a dominating 68-37 win over Vandegrift and a crushing 51-25 win against Vista Ridge.

“We started off slowly, but we’re getting it now,” senior Justin Alger said. “We’re on a roll. The path we’re on right now will take us where we need to be.”

The team opened up the second round with wins over Dripping Springs, Leander and Marble Falls. The home 36-34 win over Leander was a milestone for the team.

“It was the first time beating Leander in any sport so it was cool,” senior Nick Asbury said.

The streak ended with a four-point loss to Cedar Park, 49-45. At Vandegrift Friday, the team won 68-57 to create a three-way tie for second. They take on Vista Ridge Tuesday, Feb. 12 and start playoffs next week.

Update: The Raiders defeated Vista Ridge 63-54, and are the third seed in the playoffs. The team will play Austin Travis Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Concordia University.