With the Stellar High School Summer Basketball League winding down, the Whitehall boys varsity team still has an opportunity to make the playoffs.

They're currently 7-3, clumped together with Liberty and Muhlenberg who share the same record. These three are currently slotted 6-7-8 in the standings. The top eight teams advance.

While making the postseason would mean a few additional games, head coach Jeff Jones is more concerned about what emerges from their time at Cedar Beach.

And that has been senior leadership.

This summer he's watched swingman Aaron Keglovits participate in every game, whether it was the summer league. during Lehigh Valley SportsFest, or the Stellar Catch A Rising Star Tournament, the senior has been a mainstay.

"He's been there with everything," said Jones. "He's done a really good job."

Jones said it's been true for seniors Seth Rissmiller, Marcus Esquilin and Matt Melosky as well.

Jones said that each one's contribution has been important in establishing that leadership role.

"It's been good for those players," he said.

While those seniors have formed the core of their summer roster, Jones said this season has been especially challenging given the number of available players on hand for every game.

"It's probably been the strangest summer in respect to that," said Jones. "We really had a number of different line-ups throughout the summer. It was a summer where we never had a full group."

Dealing with multi-sport athletes presents challenges, whether it's football practice or a baseball game, the void left will have an impact. But Jones also said their absence provides opportunities for other players.

"With that comes an opportunity for other guys, and that's ultimately what we're interested in," said Jones. "We're not concerned about winning, it's about getting guys to play."

They've also had to deal with injuries, most recently Brett Radocha's dislocated finger. Radocha was their leading scorer during last year's summer league action.

In the Stellar Catch a Rising Star tourney, the Zephs won two games, defeating East Pennsboro and Catasauqua, before losing to Liberty and eventual champions, Wilson West Lawn.

At SportsFest, Jones said they only got to play two games instead of the scheduled three, losing to Wilson West Lawn and Pocono Mountain West.

Through it all, he said the team has been playing hard, no matter what line-up is on the court. And when he's had that rare full complement of players, it's been pretty good. Still, the most important things is to get games under their belt.

"That's what this summer has been about," Jones said.