This school year’s basketball season has been an eventful one, especially for the JV Boys Basketball team. The Cavaliers rounded out this season with a record of 9-1 overall and 6-0 in the region, sweeping the title of first in the district amongst JV Boys basketball. They only suffered one loss, 45-58 against Catholic High School, but had a winning streak of five games. The real accomplishment for the team seems to be the fact that they had one of the best JV seasons PA has seen in years.
Last season, the boys team faced challenges, losing to teams this year’s squad were able to easily beat. The 2023-2024 season ended with a 4-6 overall record and only 2-3 against teams within the region, a good distance from their 2024-25 performance. Even the year before, in the 2022-2023 season, the boys struggled, ending with a record of 1-10 overall and 1-9 in the region.
This year, however, the starters collectively averaged 53 points per game. Key players in the team’s success this year include sophomore Mason Olds, sophomore Jaiden Burnside, sophomore Jordan Greene-Rodriguez, freshman Jawan Neal, and sophomore Gabe Williams.
Williams participated in baseball and football in his freshman year and decided to join the basketball team just this year. “ He mentioned how even though this is his first year playing basketball for Princess Anne, it “surely won’t be the last.” Williams described the team’s energy as “electric” and “lively,” saying that majorly contributed to their victories. “We’re like a brotherhood, you know? We’re super loud, we’ve got a lot of energy, and we’re always ready to compete.” He also went on to say even the team’s new head coach, Patrick Rice, “had a great year.”
Rice describes himself as a “basketball enthusiast” with a deep history in the sport of basketball. In his freshman year of high school in 2008, he helped lead Green Run to win the Beach District Championship. Rice explains that after leaving Green Run, he was recognized three times at Catholic High School with the “All Conference Honors” title. Reflecting on this year’s season, he said “I am incredibly proud to be a part of the Princess Anne community and honored to serve as the coach for the boys basketball program.” He states how even in practices, the boys were committed to the game and to building team bonds, which showed both on and off the court.
Each player on the JV squad contributed in some way, whether they played the whole game, or kept high energy on the bench for their teammates on the court. The team’s leadership and teamwork contributed greatly to the Cavaliers’ triumphs throughout the season, along with the competitive edge that built their desire for a win every game. This season was one of the best so far, and hopefully not the last time Princess Anne sees their JV teams dominating like the boys did this past winter.
