As the winter season hits the rearview, Bethlehem Catholic’s basketball team can look back at what they accomplished over the past three months with a smile.

The Hawks saw their season come to an end last week following a 53-42 quarterfinal loss to Philadelphia Catholic League power Neumann-Goretti in the PIAA 4A tournament.

It was a somber ending for the team seeing their season come to a close, but after a 21-7 campaign, which brought them a district championship a run as one of the final eight teams in the state, head coach Scott McClary knows this was a special season.

“We look back with a huge smile and a ton of pride in what we were able to do together,” said McClary. “Every step along the way on the journey is needed for the end. You can be absolutely good enough to win and still have much to work on at the same time.”

Deep runs in the state tournament are always something to cherish, as this was Becahi’s lengthiest stay in the tournament since the 2018 state semifinal run, which saw them fall to another Philadelphia foe in Imhotep Charter.

Edixon Gomez paced the Hawks with 16 points and Ryan Glassmacher added 11 points to keep the Hawks afloat, but the firepower of Goretti proved to be too much, as Robert Wright III led all scorers with a 20-point effort.

The eight-time state champion Saints feature several Division-I prospects and will be favored to win another state crown this weekend when they take on Quaker Valley Thursday night at the Giant Center in Hershey in the 4A final.

Certainly, Becahi would like to have an opportunity to be playing this weekend, but that doesn’t mean the can’t look back fondly at what they were able to accomplish.

“There are so many moments to choose from looking back at the season,” McClary said. “For me selfishly, I just always love the first moments back in the locker room with the team and staff after wins. The joy they have celebrating together as a team is second to none.

“There’s not enough space to give the senior class all of the words they deserve. They stayed together. They took on every form of adversity sent their way and turned it around to make them better. They will have a place and a bond in the history of Bethlehem Catholic basketball for the rest of their lives. I love them.”