Bethlehem Catholic’s basketball team has taken some punches before the 2023-24 season has even begun, but that doesn’t mean the Hawks are knocked out.

Every team loses players to graduation each year, but the Hawks also lost three of their four top returners to ACL injuries this preseason, as Marcus Drysdale, Josh Brown and Isaiah Hodge will be out the entire season.

That leaves 6-foot-7 sophomore Josh Benca-Coker as the only player returning with any valuable varsity experience for a team that finished 17-10 last year and district runners-up.

Becahi lost to Central Catholic in last year’s district championship, but defeated Nanticoke in the PIAA playoffs before losing to Neumann-Goretti in the state quarterfinals.

Despite the bad luck head coach Scott McClary and his staff have endured this offseason, they’re more than eager to show what they have on the floor this winter.

“I am very excited to work with year’s group,” said McClary. “We have a few seniors and juniors that have been developing on the younger levels that are ready to play varsity this season and we will lean on them heavily both on and off the court. Additionally, we have a core of younger players that I am really pumped up about. Now, due to an unbelievable amount of season ending injuries before we even get started, we will have to lean on some of those young guys a year sooner than we should. That could make for some game night challenges but we are really focused on how good we might be able to be by the end of the season.”

Players in the fold this season include Parker McClary (So. G); Ottavio Oppido (Sr. G); Jackson Wickenheiser (So. G); Jeremy Fyrer (Sr. G); Darius McNair (Sr. G); Ethan Roman (Jr. G); Sammy Barona, Jr. (So. G); Josh Benka-Coker (So. F); Jonathan Benka-Coker (So. G); Jack Rushe (Jr. F); Brodie Muir (So. G); Jared Benka-Coker (Sr. F); Jeremy Holmes (Sr. G); Laz Carrasquilla (Jr. F); Roman Jackson (So. G); Jaylen Leak (So. F) and Cayden Vassa (So. G).

The Hawks open the season Dec. 1 against Trinity in the Shamokin Tournament and start conference play on Dec. 6 against Liberty.

“Our goals are the same every year,” said McClary. “We want to become the best version of ourselves both on and off the court.”