Catasauqua head boys' basketball coach Eric Snyder still believed it could have been done.

The Roughies will host Palmerton Thursday night in the final countdown on their current season.

Catty needs to defeat Palmerton and then win the remaining five regular season games to return to the district playoffs.

They began the week with an overall 3-13 record and a 2-8 slate in the Colonial League. The Roughies can get back to the playoffs with an 8-8 league record.

Snyder recalled the 1998-99 season as a similar one to this year's campaign, one that did look promising with four seniors back in the fold. The previous season in 1997-98, the Roughies saw a season slip away after Derek Gemmel, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, have his season end with a knee injury during practice after the team's holiday tournament.

"Everything has really spiraled out of control," said Snyder. "We just haven't been able to finish games. Our kids have been hustling and working, but we can't put four good quarters together."

Snyder pointed to the team's latest loss to Saucon Valley, a 67-54 defeat in which the Roughies lead after the first two quarters and then were deadlocked at the end of three quarters. Once again, Catty had the game slip away.

"We held them to 23 points in the first half and then they scored 44 in the second half," said Snyder. "They hit some big three-pointers and they have some deadly shooters. But we did a good job on them. We played hard, but we couldn't end it."

Snyder cited the play of senior forwards Ricky Houser and Jake Kober, both of whom have been consistent throughout the season.

"Ricky (Houser) might have had his best game of the season," said Snyder. "He (Houser) hit two threes and he is a standing shooter. Jake (Kober) is only 5-8 or 5-9 and he had close to 10 rebounds. He is always down there battling."