JV boys’ basketball looked to get on a roll after a slow start to the season.
The team traveled to Liberty High School on Dec. 27 to play in their holiday tournament. The Patriots were matched up against Seneca Valley in the semi-finals but were missing sophomore center Justin McGraw and freshman guard Ryan McGraw.
The game was tight from the beginning with both teams starting off hot. Both teams were able to knock down their shots and the score was tied at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was slower than the first. The Patriots were able to take the two-point lead heading into the half. The third quarter was neck and neck like the previous two. Heading into the fourth quarter the Patriots had a one-point lead. Both teams were going back and forth in the final quarter. With one minute left, Seneca Valley was able to make a contested layup, giving them one-point lead.
The Patriots were able to come right back and knock a jump shot, giving them the lead with little time left. Seneca Valley was unable to respond and the Patriots won 55-54.
On Dec. 28 the Patriots played Liberty High School in the championship round. Just like their previous game, the score was close for the entire time. Liberty had a four point lead heading into the half. The third quarter was rough for the Patriots on offense. They had trouble making their threes and shot poor from the foul line. Heading into the fourth, Liberty was up by six points. Sophomore guards Dayson Miller and Ryan Parent were able to spark the Patriot offense and knock their lead to only two points. Miller was able to knock down a three-pointer with 10 seconds left on the clock to put the team up one.
On the final play of the game, Liberty came down the court and knocked down the jumper with no time left on the clock. The Patriots lost at the buzzer with a final score of 48-47. Miller ended with 20 points and Parent had 12.
Contributions to the scoring also came from sophomores Ian Smith and Rob Carpenter and freshman wing Connor Mitchell. “This was our third time this season losing at the buzzer. We have to finish games better and keep working hard in practice,” Smith said.
On Jan. 3 the Patriots played at Whitman. The team had trouble finding their offense throughout the game while Whitman was red hot. The Patriots had little energy and it showed in the final score. They lost by 15 points. Parent was the leading scorer with 15 points.
On Jan. 10 the Patriots played rival Churchill at home. The Patriots had a bad outing, looking nervous and losing the first matchup of the season against the Bulldogs.
The games on Jan. 13 against Wheaton were both too late to be included in this issue. Patriots record is 4-5.
