Despite Wednesday night’s regional quarterfinal 52-49 loss to Bayside, the Cavaliers had an otherwise successful season. Finishing with a 14-5 record, the Cavaliers ended with the second-best record for the team in the past six years, and they placed second in the Beach District following the season finale.

“We just had too many turnovers and missed free throws,” said junior shooting forward Michael Ojo, who led the team with 11 points. “But it was a good year. We were like family. And [shooting guard] Georges Archer stepped up for us all season.”

To start the year, the Cavs were informed very abruptly on the day of the opening game that three players had tested positive for COVID-19, with two players being starters. Crippled, the team went on to lose week one against Landstown by a significant margin of 41 points. Head coach Corey Coffer said that “you look at that box score and say ‘oh man, they lost by 40,’ but they are not 40 points better than us.” Despite the blow, the Cavaliers quickly turned the season around, winning an impressive 7 out of 8 games with a positive point differential of 131 points.

Unique to this season, Coffer attributes most of this success to the player’s ability to be coachable. “I think everybody kind of bought into being coachable. Every year I’d have one or two guys that wouldn’t buy into what we were doing, but this year it’s different.” He continued, “I think this year everybody has really committed to what we’re trying to do as a team.” Of the Cavaliers starting five lineup, three players are seniors. A sense of veteran leadership and experience has been on the front lines for the Cavs this season, with 3 of the 5 starters being seniors. 

Coffer took over as the PA boys basketball coach all the way back in 2016. Every year since 2016, the Cavaliers have increased their winning percentage from the previous year (excluding a shortened season due to COVID-19). From starting at just 6-16 in his first year with the team, the PA boys have since finished with a winning record every season under Coffer. His leadership is prevalent on the court, too.

The Cavaliers showed dominance in beatdowns of teams like First Colonial and Cox, with 29 and 28 point wins late in the year. Edging out wins against teams like Bayside, Salem, and Green Run proved huge in the team’s seeding in the playoffs.

Despite the season’s ending, the team isn’t in bad shape. With the likes of returning starters Michael Ojo and Samuel Bland, the team is in very talented hands. The team’s strong sense of uniformism and selflessness will allow for a continuation of prosperity and a bright future for the Cavaliers.