On Saturday March 7, the men’s Bearkat basketball team will host Texas State University in the final regular season game. For seniors DeLuis Ramirez, Domas Kvedys and Barkley Falkner, this game will be especially important; it is the final time they will take the court at Johnson Coliseum as Bearkats.
Ramirez has played for the Bearkats for two years and said he has really enjoyed his time at SHSU and on the basketball team. He said his time on the court for the last game of the season will not be emotional for him, but he is looking forward to it.
He is also looking forward to the Southland Conference (SLC) Tournament, which will take place from March 12 through March 15. in Katy, Texas. “I’m looking forward to moving a lot farther this year,” Ramirez said.
In last year’s tournament, the Bearkats were knocked out in the second round by UT-Arlington.
The 6’4″ guard has scored 236 points for the Bearkats this season. He hopes to increase this total and lead his team not only to victory on Saturday against the visiting Bobcats, but also to the NCAA Championships with an SLC tournament win.
The 2008-09 basketball season is the third at SHSU for Kvedys. The 6’10” forward/center originally from Lithuania, said that he has had a great time here in America and at SHSU.
“I’ve had a lot of fun and have met a lot of great people here,” said Kvedys.
Like Ramirez, Kvedys is looking forward to the final home game and is hoping, like the rest of the team, that they can come out with a win.
“It will be the game to remember for me,” Kvedys said.
He is also looking forward to the upcoming SLC tournament and hopes to take the Bearkats all the way this year, coming off disappointing early round losses the past two seasons.
This is Falkner’s third year at SHSU and his second active season on the basketball team after being red-shirted his first year.
“I had to get used to Texas,” Falkner said, having come from Mississippi. But he said he has enjoyed his time here fulfilling his childhood dream of playing college basketball.
Falkner, who is fourth in the SLC for most rebounds this season, is looking forward to the last game. He doesn’t know what to expect from it, although others have told him what it will be like.
“Winning the game is the most important part,” said Falkner.
What’s next for these three seniors? Kvedys will be getting married at the end of May, Ramirez hopes to play basketball overseas, and Falkner also hopes to play overseas, but if he is unable to, he plans on using his accounting degree to earn his CPA.