As the season pushes forth the Patterson Mill varsity basketball team is coming to a very crucial point in its season.  “We are progressing a lot further. We played Havre de Grace very tough but, we need a strong effort the rest of the season,” said Jeroud Clark, head coach of the basketball team. Eight out of the last ten games of the season are divisional matchups and are vital games for the team to make the playoffs.

    Expectations for the team this year are high.  “We are fighting for an UCBAC championship and we have some obstacles to get over to achieve this goal,” said Clark.

    According to The Baltimore Sun, as of January 14^th the Huskies are 3-4 overall excluding tournament play.  They are 1-1 within the Susquehana division in the UCBAC with a win against Rising Sun and a loss to Fallston.  The team was scheduled to play North East but, the game was cancelled due to snow.  The team has games against Fallston, Harford Tech, North Harford, North East, Perryville, Rising Sun, and Bo Manor coming up.  With wins against these opponents the team will be in prime position to take the Susquehana title and advance their season into the playoffs.  Fallston and North Harford will be the teams to compete with as they are typically top contenders for the division.

     The team’s practice efforts will need to stay high and they need to stay focused on their challenges ahead.

     “We need to be precise in everything we do.  Staying healthy will be very important. We need to work on the mental aspects of the game,” said Clark.

    Fallston, being one of the last games of the season, will be one of the most exciting games of the year.  The Huskies need a win against the Cougars having lost to them once already by ten. 

    “They are a tough team with good shooters. They are an important one to beat because it’s a divisional game,” said JJ Butler, sophomore and captain of the team.  “We need to play lockdown defense and make the important shots.  We need to be smart with the ball on offense,” said Butler.

    With the second half of the season being against teams the Huskies have already faced, the tendencies of these opponents will already be known. 

    “If we play hard we will be in good position to win the division.  We need to win the games we are supposed to win,” concluded Butler.