After finishing the regular season with seven straight wins and an impressive 18-2 record, the boys basketball team is looking to the playoffs.

Hoban visited Elyria Catholic Feb. 14 and left with a 75-51 victory.  Senior Johnny Wolosinczuk led the Knight attack with 21 points, and senior Roland Battle added 13.

The Knights' next victim was Mentor Lake Catholic. Hoban got its revenge from an earlier loss and won 63-57.  Wolosinczuk and Battle again led the Knights with 18 and 13 points respectively, including 10 rebounds from Wolosinczuk. Freshman Theo Barnes had 10 points, and senior Chris Stasik chipped in 9.

According to coach T.K. Griffith, the Knights won this time around with determination.

"We just wanted it more, and we had a strong desire to avenge that first loss," Griffith said.  "We also played better and took much better shots."

Hoban continued its winning streak with a 66-33 victory over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Feb. 21.  Wolosinczuk had another double-double with 28 points and 11 rebounds.  Battle had 11, Stasik added 10, and senior Chris DeCrane had 8.

Hoban's final regular-season game came against Villa Angela-St. Joseph on Senior Night Feb. 24.  Both teams entered the game with one North Coast League loss, but it was Hoban who would finish with only one.  The Knights jumped to an early lead and won 66-54.  They held the Vikings to 6 points in the second quarter and led by 14 at the half. VA-SJ stormed back in the third quarter, sparked by Ohio State recruit Dave Lighty.  Hoban led by as little as 4 but never gave up the lead throughout the game.  Battle, who led the Knights with 27 points, hit six free throws in the final 1:30 to seal the victory.  Wolosinczuk had 8 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks; Stasik had 12 points; and senior David Francesconi had 11.  Hoban won the NCL championship and finished with a conference record of 12-1.

Griffith said the NCL title is important for the team.

"It will give the kids something to remember the season by," he said.

In the OHSAA sectionals, the Knights were placed in the Barberton bracket and will face the winner of the Central-Hower/Kenmore game in the first round of playoffs on Friday, March 3, at 8.

Griffith thinks the district will be tough but also has some high hopes for his team.

"The winner of this district is going to have to beat Buchtel or St. Vincent-St. Mary or both," Griffith said.  "We want to beat St. V-M in the district finals."

Griffith thinks this Hoban team is one of the best in the past decade.

"We play hard and together, and we represented the Hoban basketball alumni well," Griffith said.  "The kids should be proud of themselves. They helped carry the Hoban tradition."