Instead of relaxing like most over the holidays, the boys basketball team was busy at work, playing four games, with two of them taking place in Maryland.

The team went 1-3 over this span, with an away blowout section loss to Mt. Lebanon on Dec. 21, and a loss to 1A powerhouse Vincentian, 56-52, on Dec. 22.

“These two losses really hurt us,” junior Andy Degenhardt said. “It made us angry and made us more excited for our next section game.”

The team also lost to the home team, Southern Garrett High School, in the tournament in Maryland on Dec. 27. The team closed out the break with a win in the same tournament against Uniontown, 80-75, on Dec. 28.

“We were able to see our weaknesses and strengths in the different matchups we had down there,” senior Christian Barr said.

Barr earned all-tournament honors in Maryland.

“It was a great honor, and I feel like my hard work is paying off,” Barr said.

Even though the team didn’t win the tournament, there were still some positives coming from the trip.

“The trip was a great bonding experience for us,” Barr said. “It helped us to come together and really get to know each other more in a personal way.”

The team is now 4-5 overall and 0-1 in section. The Highlanders continue their season with a home section game Friday night against undefeated Upper Saint Clair.

“They’ll try to speed us up, but if we can execute our game plan, I think we have a good shot to come out on top,” Degenhardt said.