Team members congratulate each other with a high five. - Justin Persinger
The boys’ basketball teams’ win streak increased to seven with three wins in four days between Jan. 28-31.
On Jan. 28 the boys defeated Brooke 68-59 Jan.28 then defeated them again Jan. 30 with a score of 81-50. The following day they defeated Ripley for the second time this year, 71-64. “It is awesome to win them all [three games in four days], but my legs are dead tired,” junior Wes Mitchem said.
In the first game against Brooke junior Doug Dennis scored 25 points and Mitchem added 13. In the second game the scoring was the other way around. Mitchem hauled in a Patriot season high 31 points and added 12 rebounds, while Dennis added 16 and senior Matt Goldsberry had 8. “I didn’t know I had 31 points until I got to the bench and the team told me; it’s a career high for me, too,” Mitchem said. “I credit my teammates for the helps that support they gave me.”
Against Ripley Dennis and Mitchem had huge games. Mitchem finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds while Dennis added 22 points to lead the Patriots over the Vikings. “It felt good to score high in all three games,” Dennis said. “It wasn’t hard getting on a roll playing three games in four days.”
The boys will compete in the Big Atlantic Classic tournament Feb. 3-4 before facing Bridgeport Feb. 7. “The Big Atlantic Classic is a tournament of the best teams in the state,” Dennis said. “We’re just working hard like we have all year for this game."