Last week, things were looking bleak for the Salesianum Basketball team. After a disappointing loss to Sanford, many people were beginning to doubt that the 3-7 Sals could make the playoffs. But this week, Sallies played some of their best basketball of the season and won back-to back games against Archmere and St. Mark’s.

During the Tuesday game against the Auks, Salesianum had multiple big plays on the defensive end that were able to turn into easy points. Although Archmere came back during the 2nd half, the Sals were evidently in control for the whole game. The Thursday game against St. Marks was more of the same, as the Sals held the Spartans to less than half of their own points. The toga-clad student section was also a key contributor, too, as their Salesian spirit disrupted the flow of the opposing team.

Throughout the two games, there were several key players that were crucial to both of the Sals’ victories. Junior guard Rasheen Caulk was the scoring force that kept the offense going, as his ball-handling helped him create good looks at the rim. Senior point guard Charles Parson was the definition of a floor general, providing a calm presence on offense and the intensity on the defensive end. Ethan Hinds showed his phenomenal defensive prowess, in addition to jump starting fast breaks down the court. The Sals were also able to use their size to their advantage, as big men like Justin Molen, James Yelbert, Pat Methlie, and Danny Hanson dominated the paint on both ends of the court.

These two wins were important for Sallies Basketball, not only because they kept their playoff hopes alive, but also showed Delaware why they are still one of the best teams in the state.