Northwest Christian has its sights set on the playoffs.

“Things are coming together good for us right now, so I think we can make a big stride in the playoffs,” said starting point guard Dylan Abraham.

The Crusaders are ranked 13th in the 3A West Conference at 11-5 with games left at Benjamin Franklin Friday and at Kingman Academy Monday.

The top two teams get automatic bids to the 3A playoffs but they are tied with the third-place team.

On Wednesday night, the Crusaders lost a chance to win the 3A West title when they lost to the Wickenburg Wranglers.

Coach Jason Cook has a blueprint to finish the season. Cook is putting an emphasis on shooting in practice.

Last year they earned an automatic bid and made it to the first rounds of playoffs but fell short to Wickenburg 70-68.

Abraham is a team captain but the Crusaders biggest X-factor has arguably been freshman standout Logan Hopkins.

“One of our top two shooters… he led us in scoring not last night, but the night before and has been a really good spark for us offensively,” said Cook.

Hopkins started off the year on the varsity and has worked his way into the starting lineup.

Much of the game of basketball is about not beating yourself but forcing the opposing team to beat you instead.

Hopkins attributes his success at such a young age to just that. “I think it’s my ability to think in the game and not make as many mistakes as other people do.''