Rivalry is seen in all sports, and basketball is no exception. The boys basketball team has been practicing diligently in the hopes that they will defeat some long-standing rivals, such as New Brighton.
On top of that, growth can be seen from the season’s start to the current point in the season. The boys are more coordinated and have had the time to adapt to playing with new members. According to the team’s stats on MaxPreps, the team’s Adjusted Field Goal Percentage (aFG%) has increased from 30% at the start of the season, to 53%.
The freshmen playing on the varsity team have been given a chance to show how they have grown, just as everyone else does. The stakes are higher for freshmen, however, because showing growth signals that they are aware of where they are falling short with their skills, and are striving to build these skills to meet those of the star players on the team.
“I think I’ve definitely gotten better with my confidence on the court,” Chase Andrews (9) said.
On Dec. 16, the Bulldogs fell to the Beaver Falls Tigers at home with a score of 63-43, featuring six assists and 37 rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 37% from the floor, and 50% from the line.
The following conference game, on Dec. 19, was an away game against the Aliquippa Quips, with the Bulldogs facing a heavy loss of 59-36. The Bulldogs shot 36% from the floor and 60% from the line. The game, with 11 assists and 35 rebounds, allowed rising freshman Andrews to shine.
Andrews has the highest Points Per Game (PPG), averaging 18. He also has the most Turnovers Per Game (TPG), averaging 4.8.
The Bulldogs played two Wilmington Shootout games: one against the Laurel Spartans on Dec. 27 and the other against the New Wilmington Greyhounds on Dec. 29. Both games were non-conference games at Wilmington High School’s gymnasium.
The game against the Spartans was another loss for the Bulldogs, with a score of 75-49, and 10 assists and 29 rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 42% from the floor and 46% from the line.
Facing off against the Greyhounds on Dec. 29, the Bulldogs came away with their second win of the season, leading 74-36. The game had the most assists and rebounds of the year, with 20 assists and 47 rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 46% from the floor and 58% from the line. William Kumrow (11) scored 26 of those points and carried out 10 of the 47 rebounds.
“We have a young team, so there’s a lot of growing pains with that,” Noah Chaousy (12) said. “Our mentality is a lot different than it used to be. Our teams have been toxic through the years, but this first team, I think, is all together.”
The first game of 2026 was on Jan. 6 against the Riverside Panthers. At this conference game, the Bulldogs fell to the Panthers 42-28, and featured six assists and 28 rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 29% from the floor and 43% from the line.
On Jan. 9, the Bulldogs made the short trip to New Brighton to play against the Lions. The Bulldogs have been longtime rivals of the Lions, so there is always plenty of tension and competitiveness when the two teams play. This most recent conference game against the Lions was no different. With a close score of 58-54, the Bulldogs almost made a comeback during the final quarter, scoring four points more than the Lions, but it was not enough to strip the Lions of their victory. The close game had the crowd on pins and needles, and the Bulldogs were close to talking home a victory.
On Jan. 13, the Bulldogs faced off against the Mohawk Area Warriors at home, falling short with a score of 72-35. The conference game featured seven assists and 21 rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 33% from the floor and 20% from the line.
On Jan. 16, the boys played against the Wolverines and lost 55-45. The Bulldogs shot 33% from the floor, 50% from the line and made 21 rebounds.
On Jan 23, the boys faced off against the Quips and fell 59-34. After this game, the Bulldogs have won 2 games and lost 12.
The Bulldogs are nearing the end of their season, but that doesn’t mean they won’t continue to show growth and strive to try their hardest to achieve the best for their team.