Now that the winter season is coming to a close, the DeMatha community is buzzing with excitement as the WCAC basketball playoffs are about to begin. This season was unlike any other for the Stags.

With the coronavirus still impacting fan capacity in the stands, and a new head coach in Peter Strickland ‘75, how have the Stags tackled this season? Players and coaches have the answers to your questions.

Senior Xavier University commit Tyrell Ward says he is “100% confident we will win the championship this season.” Tyrell believes that Paul VI and Gonzaga will give DeMatha the most trouble during their playoff push.

Even with Coach Strickland taking over the head coaching job after Mike Jones accepted a position with Virginia Tech, Tyrell says that “the team’s chemistry has not changed since we all still have one goal.”

In his senior season, Tyrell is cherishing his final moments in a DeMatha uniform, saying, “It means a lot to me and I’ll only go ten times harder to achieve my final goal.”

Senior James Madison University commit Jerrell Roberson agrees with Tyrell, saying that he is “very confident in our team and our chances of winning the championship.”

Jerrell feels that the WCAC is very competitive. “Every team this year is good but we have to play like the better team that we know ourselves to be,” he said.

With the head coaching position switching over to Coach Strickland, Jerrell says that the team chemistry has “gotten stronger.” He adds that “it is always a challenge to adjust under new conditions but we came together as a team.”

Since this is his final season in a DeMatha uniform, Jerrell feels that “there’s no better way to finish the season than to win the championship we’ve been working for since day one.”

Interim head coach Peter Strickland is “very confident” in the team but believes that they “can only get the results if they play well.” Coach Strickland says that “all top 4 seeds have his attention, [McNamara], PVI, and Gonzaga.” But he also believes that any team in the top 8 “can get it done.”

With the conference being so competitive and every team having a chance at winning the championship, Coach Strickland believes that “it’s scary this season.” Since he took over the head coaching job this season, Coach Strickland understands that the team chemistry “won’t improve overnight.” But even with that, he believes that the team is “in as good of a place now than before,” adding that the team is “well past the transition period as we are now adjusting to one another.”

Coach Strickland believes that his seniors playing harder, knowing that it is their last time in a DeMatha uniform, is “a true statement about any senior.” He adds that “every team is led by the seniors as their work ethic is what leads the team.”