When Ben Tannous took over the Spartan boys basketball program four years ago, he turned the team into a winning machine. In his last two years, he has racked up a combined 35 wins, with a mere 14 losses. However, previous seasons have all had the same disappointing  storyline: a strong start followed by an unfortunate early playoff loss. This year, the Spartans will look to rise above the ranks of mediocrity in the playoffs.  

“We just won’t talk about the losses,” Coach Tannous said. “If anything we can use it as motivation and experience so we just play as if it was any other game.”

The Spartans have yet to string together multiple playoff wins in a row under Tannous’s lead, but this year’s team has the potential to break that streak. From day one the focal point for coaches and players has been togetherness, something that this year’s squad has that previous Southern Lehigh teams have not.

“We have the chemistry, we’ve been playing together for four years. We’re embracing the challenge,” senior captain Sean Welsh said. “We want this more than any other team.”

Welsh is one of seven seniors on the roster, and he has been competing on the varsity team alongside fellow senior captains Lucas Hudson and Jack Zamichieli for three years.

The starting lineup consists of five seniors who have experienced disappointing losses before. Last year the Spartans were seeded third in Colonial League playoffs, but they suffered a disheartening loss to Salisbury in the semifinals. Their District 11 playoff run was also cut short by a loss to Whitehall in the first round of the tournament.

However, the senior-heavy team has shown growth. Hudson has established himself as one of the premier ball-handlers in the Lehigh Valley, and despite an early injury, Zamichieli has racked up 164 points this season and is averaging 9.5 PPG since his return. Leading scorer Kevin Patel has made an astounding 52 three-pointers, giving the Spartans a lethal shooter from the outside. Forward Mike Miller has also had a productive year, ranking fifth on the team in scoring.

The Spartans struggled early in the season including suffering a tough loss to Bangor at home. However, after starting the season with a 2-2 record the Spartans went on to win their next 13 games, with victories over third-ranked Notre Dame, a blowout victory against Salisbury, and a 35-point rout of fifth ranked Saucon Valley. Southern Lehigh finished the regular season with a 15-3 record in conference play.

But winning a championship is easier said than done. The Spartans squandered their chance for Colonial League title this past Friday, losing to undefeated powerhouse Bangor. A new district classification also put Bangor, Whitehall, Pottsville, and Central Catholic in the way of the Spartans’ hunt for their first district championship since 2009.

“We need to continue to play together and keep bringing it every day against every team so we can win the championship,” Zamichieli said.

Ultimately, the success of the Spartans will depend on their comradery. It has been a mantra echoed by the players and coaches throughout the season. The chemistry between this season’s senior class could be the tipping point that gives them an advantage over other teams. In the mind of the players, it may push the Spartans over the playoff hump and break the streak of Southern Lehigh’s playoff losing streak.