The Panther Creek Men’s Varsity Basketball Team return from holiday break with a 5-6 (2-1) record bouncing back from a 66-64 loss to conference rival Middle Creek.  With no holiday tournament or games scheduled, the Catamounts have the opportunity to get healthy and rested for the second half of the season.

Up until this point, Panther Creek’s season has been a tale of close games, home-court advantage, and injuries, and at least according to head coach Shawan Robinson, this should just make the team more optimistic heading into the second half of the season.

In an interview with Robinson, the first year varsity head coach shared his biggest surprise of the year thus far.  “The amount of injuries,” Robinson admitted.  “We haven’t had the same team for more than two games straight.”

The Catamounts have also not had the same amount of time to gel as a team in comparison to its SWAC opponents due to the success of the football team in the state playoffs.  Forwards Tyler Thompson (#33), Justin Smalls (#34), Julian Wheaton (#35), Cameron LeBlanc (#42), Ivoree Atkinson (#54), as well as guard Diamante Taylor (#11) were all added to the team following the Catamounts’ third game.  Before their arrival, Panther Creek guards were sometimes forced to play out of position and the entire team had to help pick up the slack rebounding.

Robinson also shared what he thought the team needed to improve on in the second half of the season.  “Closing out games and staying healthy…we have a chance to win the league,” he said.  “But we have to win close games and stay healthy to do so.”

The Catamounts have played in four games where the game has been decided by one possession.  They are 1-1 when are forced into overtime and 1-3 when the score is within two points at the end of regulation.

With injuries and close games influencing the Catamounts’ first half of the season, a positive aspect of Panther Creek’s season thus far has been their efficiency at home.  At Panther Creek, the Catamounts are 4-0, making them 1-6 on the road.

As a team, the Catamounts average 67 ppg at home and 64.1 ppg away.  They average 52 points against at home and 72.6 points against away.  And the Catamounts are even a better free throw shooting team at home, shooting 67.5% at home and 64% away.  Panther Creek’s average margin at home is +15, while their average margin away is -8.5.

This discrepancy in statistics may be the effect of the familiarity of the court at Panther Creek.  It could also possibly be caused by the quality of opponents faced at home. According to junior starting point guard Juan Munoz, however, Catamount Chaos plays a critical role in home wins as well.

(Following the win against Cary):

Great win tonight, we played well! Catamount chaos was live too

— Rich Homie Juan (@JuanMunoz4) December 16, 2014