Entering their “new era” under head coach Chase Rieder, the boys’ basketball team has wasted no time making its presence known this season, going 2-2 in their opening four games.
The season began on a high note as WJ hosted Rockville and came away with a 57-42 victory. The Cats played with energy on both sides of the court from the opening tipoff, keeping their composure scoring the first 15 points of the game, controlling the tempo of the game sealing the win.
Four days later, the team turned heads with a vital performance against Einstein, crushing them 85-34. The Wildcats overwhelmed the Titans defensively, forcing turnovers and pressing relentlessly throughout the whole game. The final scoreline reflected the team’s ability to play fast and share the ball through all four quarters.
“Even though we won, something we need to grow on as a team is communicating with each other on the court,” senior guard Zaph Abbey said.
The team’s first true battle came against Richard Montgomery, whom the Cats have only won one of their last 10 games against since December 2018. Despite ultimately losing 64-50, the Cats showed some resilience. This game provided valuable lessons the team will have to learn from later in the season.
“After our first loss to RM, we realized that this year was not going to be a cakewalk and we need to keep giving 100% in practice and stay together as a team,” Abbey said.
Individually, the Wildcats have seen strong contributions across the roster. Freshman guard Jeremiah Williams has emerged as an early scoring leader, consistently attacking the basket and making an impact on the glass. Abbey and fellow senior guard Christian Walker have helped steady the offense, while senior forward Will Kriesle has set the defensive tone with his hustle and anticipation. Junior guard Connor Luecking has also contributed defensively, protecting the paint and contesting shots.
The Wildcats faced assistant coach Jerome Williams’ alma mater, Magruder, on Monday, where they faced a tough 66-70 loss to start the week. Bouncing back the Cats hosted Wootton on Wednesday securing a 64-54 win, and to finish the week they will travel to face a tough Winston Churchill team tonight. This stretch will test WJ’s depth and consistency to open the season, but early performances suggest the team is ready for the challenge.
“Because we have three games this week, it’s important to put the same effort and focus into each and have our success build towards the game so we can continue to win,” junior point guard Aidan Weiss said.
As the season progresses, the Cats will look to build on their strong start and continue developing chemistry, all while aiming to establish themselves as a team to watch this winter.
