After waiting for some players to return from football, and injuries to heal up, the Little Lion boys basketball team has hit their stride.
“I’m very happy. Like I said, we’re starting to get better at the right time and we’re starting to play better and that’s good for us,” said Sophomore Drew Friberg.
“We’ve had numerous people step up,” said Coach Joe Walker. “You know, it’s not always the same person. There’s always some one that makes one play that will help us down the stretch to kind of seal a game.”
That time has also forced some of the younger Little Lions to be baptized by fire.
“It is tough but they’ve gotten used it. They’ve played at Harrisburg. They’ve played at Central Dauphin East and our Mid Penn Schedule really makes you grow up fast,” recalled Coach Walker. “If you don’t grow up fast, you really can’t play.”
“We’ve got a lot of young guys and some of us have been playing together for a while,” added Friberg. “We’re starting to click as a team. The team chemistry is getting better and better with each win.”
Twelve of State College’s games have been decided by ten points or less, but now the Little Lions have started to be on the winning end of those types of match ups, winning nine of their last 10. Coach Walker hopes that’s a precursor of things to come.
“You know, look at Michigan State with Tom Izzo. You know, he might all year have injuries, they might have an 18-10 record going into the NCAA tournament but you know they’re going to be in there in March. That’s what I said. Hopefully we’re going to be playing our best basketball at the end of February and March,” said Coach Walker.