The Cascade Christian Cougars boys basketball team rattled off nine consecutive wins but saw its season come to an end after a 59-55 loss to Mount Baker on Feb. 16 in a district playoff game.

Senior guard AJ Howells was the Cougars’ point guard for the majority of the season.

“We’re peaking right now and are playing really well as a team,” he said a few days before Cascade Christian played Mount Baker. “We have been practicing really hard and are always prepared for our opponents.”

Howells said head coach Jerry Williams and the rest of the coaching staff gave the team a pep talk in early January about improving on the defensive end of the floor.

“Our defense has really tightened up,” Howells said. “It is just teamwork. The coaches gave us a motivational speech, and that really turned things around for us.”

The Herald recently asked Howells a few questions about his life away from the basketball court.

The Herald: What is your favorite movie of all time?

AJ Howells: “Happy Gilmore.” It is a funny, lighthearted movie.

TH: What would you do if you had $1 million?

AH: I would just put it in the bank and collect interest on it.

TH: What is your biggest pet peeve?

AH: When people have cocky attitudes. I don’t like it when people are self-centered.

TH: What is something unique about you that nobody would know?

AH: I was a black belt in Taekwondo when I was younger. I did Taekwondo for four years.

TH: What is your favorite hobby away from the basketball court?

AH: I like playing golf. It is a summer hobby for me.

TH: Where do you see yourself in five years?

AH: I hope to be enrolled in medical school. I would like to be able to do chiropractic and medical work. It would be nice.

TH: Who are you listening to the most on your iPod right now?

AH: I like listening to Tupac (Shakur). It gets me going before our games. I like mostly rap and rock ’n’ roll.