Boys’ basketball had their first game on the season rescheduled, so it left them with scrimmages to get ready for the season.

In their first scrimmage on Nov. 23, they played two teams, the first half against Gaithersburg and the second half against Walter Johnson. They won the first half against the Trojans, but lost the second half to the Wildcats. “It was a good way to start the season; we are just trying to figure ourselves out,” senior Greg Urovsky said.”

The boys then played Clarksburg on Nov. 25 and won by three. The Patriots were led by senior forward True Johnson, who had 15 points, and junior guard Jack Lvovsky, who had 12 points. “It was a great win, we are really coming together as a team,” Johnson said.

In their final scrimmage of the season on Nov. 20, the Patriots beat Watkins Mill by 16. Senior guard Garrett Koch lead the team with 16 points. “The game was closer than we would have liked it to be, but it is good to see us winning,” Koch said.

Senior guard Ryan Mariani looks to help lead the team this season, but his basketball future did not always seemed destined. Before his freshman year, Mariani had already suffered a couple concussions and was cautious when playing basketball as he wanted to remain healthy for his main sport, baseball. During his freshman year at Good Counsel, Mariani suffered another concussion that kept him sidelined for a couple of weeks, but it effects were longer lasting as the number of concussions piled up. “It was hard for me to overcome so many concussions,” Mariani said.

After transferring to Wootton for his sophomore year, Mariani did not play basketball, so he was healthy for the baseball season. “It was hard for me to sit out, but I wanted to make sure I was healthy for baseball,” Mariani said.

Mariani returned to the court his junior season, and was one of the key guards who helped the Patriots win. During the middle of the season, hardship struck again as Mariani suffered a blow to the head and was diagnosed with his fifth concussion. After rehabbing, he was able to get healthy for the baseball season. After a concussion-free 2018, Mariani returns to the court as starting guard and looks to help the Patriots win. “I’m glad I can still play and I know how to be safe, so this season should be a healthy season,” Mariani said.

The boys opened their season on Dec. 8 at home vs. Poolesville, too late to be covered in this issue.