Coming off back-to-back Section V titles, the McQuaid Jesuit Basketball Knights are seeking a chance to win 3 straight titles. 

McQuaid has traditionally had a good basketball team each year due to good coaching and overall talent. In 2017 McQuaid won the Section 5 title in a 70-54 win over UPrep and also won the 2018 Section 5 title in a 81-75 win over UPrep.

Despite the loss of 9 total players in 2018, The Knights are ready to compete this year, and will depend on seniors Kobe Long and Jermaine Taggart, who were both AGR All First Team players back in 2018. In addition to Long and Taggart, other returning seniors include seniors Ryan Hoffman, Reuben Daniel, Bobby Flaherty, and Charlie Salina.

The Knights open up their 2019-2020 season with an away non-conference game against St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, a team that McQuaid beat by more than 30 points last year. 

McQuaid has recently been successful against rival Aquinas Institute, and have a recent win streak over the Lil’ Irish. The Knights take on Aquinas for the first time on December 20th, and once again on February 13th. This matchup is always highly anticipated and well attended. 

The Lance had the opportunity to interview senior forward Ryan Hoffman,’20 about the expectations and how the team will look this year. One of the questions The Lance posed to Hoffman was knowing that the team lost 3 starters and 9 total players last year, how do you think the team will bounce back?

Hoffman replied, “Yeah, I mean the three seniors were incredible players and assets to the team, but the amount of effort the team has put in this off season, I feel as if we can fill right in without missing a beat. This year I feel as if we have a chip on our shoulder from last year’s regional loss.”

In 2017 the Knights started off 0-3, and in 2018 the start was the opposite winning their first three games. Both years McQuaid varsity basketball won the Section V title.

Hoffman was asked if he believed that the start of  the season impacts the rest of the season?

“I believe the start of the year can make or break a team, but with us, we have the drive and skill to overcome anything.”

Regardless if the start is good or not, Hoffman is sure his team will be able to overcome if they dont start as they wanted to.