The Catty boys basketball team has seen an up and down week since last Monday’s 66-62 win over Northern Lehigh.

But it’s also been a symbol of their season, as the Roughs sit at 6-8 overall and 5-5 in the Colonial League as of Wednesday. Their most recent game was a close loss to Salisbury at home in what was a back and forth game.

“We lost a tough game [Tuesday] night at home to Salisbury,” head coach Eric Snyder said. “They beat us good the first time at Salisbury, 64-33. We were winning last night 48-39 with three minutes left and unfortunately could not hold the lead. We did not score in the last three minutes and they outscored us 11-0 to win 50-48.”

Last Friday night, the boys fell to Moravian Academy on the road, 68-48. Moravian got out to a 16-12 lead after the first quarter and then turned it up in the second to take a 37-19 advantage into halftime. At that point, Abe Atiyeh had 12 points in the first half before finishing with a game-high 27 on the night, which included two three-pointers.

Catty made a bit of a run in the third quarter thanks to Ty Reitz, who scored 12 in the third frame alone. Moravian led 49-38 after three but would end up pulling away in the fourth quarter thanks in part to going 8-for-10 from the foul line.

Abel Saft went 5-for-5 in the fourth quarter from the foul line and finished with 12 points to help the winning cause. Overall he was 6-for-7 from the line. Jagger Hornik had five points, all coming in the final frame.

For Catty, Reitz led the way with 17. Cole Schiffer scored 13 and Derek Troxell and Damian DiPaolo each had nine.

“Ty Reitz is our center and has been improving every game,” said Snyder. “He is gaining more and more confidence every game with his scoring and rebounding and defense.”

The Roughs responded in a big way the following night knocking off Northwestern 66-61, Saturday.

This time, it was the Catty boys getting off to a big lead, however, they needed to hold off a charging Tiger squad in the second half.

Catty led 18-16 after a quarter and then blew things open a bit, outscoring the Tigers 21-10 in the second to take a 39-26 lead into the half.

NW cut it to 52-41 after three and then outscored Catty 20-14 in the final frame.

Troxell had a big night for Catty with two threes among his team-leading 27 points. DiPaolo added a three among his 19 points. Sean McCann, Deven Bollinger and Luke Hallman led the way for the Tigers. McCann dropped in 25 points, including five threes while Bollinger added 15 and Hallman 12.

“So far our group has been a total team effort,” Snyder said. “Derek Troxell, Cole Schiffer, and Damian DiPaolo have been our ballhandlers and control the game for us, with Troxell leading the way as our top scorer. Schiffer plays point guard and controls the game for us and DiPaolo runs the floor very well.”

The Roughs couldn’t keep that moment going in a close loss on the road at Salisbury Tuesday night.

Catty again go off to a lead after the first quarter. Troxell hit a three and Reitz added four points as Catty led 10-9 after the first frame.

But the Falcons would take a 30-29 lead into the half thanks to a 21-point explosion in the second quarter. Foley hit two threes for eight points and Stephens would add nine, including a three.

Seeming to have lost the momentum, Catty came out hot in the third quarter scoring 16 points. DiPaolo had five and Reitz added four as CHS took the lead 45-34.

But back came the Falcons with an 18-point final frame to earn the victory. Trey Weber, Patrick Foley and Joe Panariello all hit threes to help the winning cause.

“We need nine league wins to qualify for D-11 playoffs, and we have seven league games left. We must go 4-3,” Snyder said.

Snyder said Giddeon McKenzie and Jacob Smith rotate at forward and have done a good job, adding McKenzie is one of the team’s better three-point shooters, and Smith gives fire and intensity and great effort.

Damian Vasquez has also provided good defense and offense off the bench for at guard, Snyder said.