Boys basketball prepares for last games; Improving, strengthening with every shot

The boys varsity basketball team has remained strong despite a tough season. The team currently has a record of 3-11. The squad posted wins against North East, Bel Air, and Bohemia Manor. Even with all the losses, the team continues to play and “improve” with every game, according to Coach Nick Panos.

     The team is made up of 11 seniors and one junior. Panos says,“all players are solid contributors to our program.”

       Captain and senior John Allred comments, “We are all pretty tight and pretty close on and off the court.” Senior captain Evan Wagner states, “We all care about each other a lot.”

     “It is really fun playing basketball with a bunch of people and everyone is pretty cool,” said senior Jonathan Roth. Senior Shane Borns agrees. “I like to scrimmage during practice, we goof around and have fun,” he said.

     All teams have strengths and things that they could improve on, and Coach Panos states that the strongest part of the team is “[…] that [the team is] steadily improving as a group- no quitters in our group of 12.”  The coach said the team needs to improve on their “[…] commitment to team play over individual play to improve,” Panos says.

     “We practice harder [than the other teams],” Roth states. Before games the team “shoot[s] more than we should,” Borns says. 

          According to Allred, “We could improve on listening more to each other.” Wagner adds, “We are already close, so we get along with each other, so I guess we have to […] focus more.”

Senior Patrick Shrodes said, “We could probably do more drills [at practice, so the team does not lose so much].”

     Due to Covid-19 protocols, the team has not been able to have spectators at their games.  “I miss the support from the fans, but it is easier to concentrate and lock in before and during the game,” Wagner says. Allred adds, “It is a little easier to focus and listen to our coaches, but taking away the fans ruins the momentum [we get from them].” 

     The basketball season is coming to a close and the team plays their last four games against Harford Christan, Perryville, Fallston, and Edgewood. As the team is preparing, Panos explains they will “work hard at every practice and commit 100% of our efforts at every game.”