Millard West got off to a good start in their season opener against #10 Lincoln Pius. After leading 15-11 at the end of the first quarter, Pius scored 9 unanswered points to start the 2nd quarter. Pius led 30-27 at the half. In the third quarter, the Thuderbolts led by as many as 18 points as the Wildcats had a hard time scoring in the period. West battled back and cut the score to 55-63 and had the ball with under a minute left. But it was too little too late.

Peyton Buscher led the Wildcats with 13 points and Brock Burling added 11.