If you would have told Freedom basketball fans that they would be 7-4 heading into the new year, you would get an overwhelming thumbs up.

Head coach Joe Stellato is in that same boat as his team jumps into 2016 in prime position to take advantage of their successful first half of the season.

The Pates split their pair of games at the Unionville Holiday Tournament over Christmas break, walloping Kennett 65-29 and then losing on the second night to the hosts, Unionville, 67-48.

“We played well in both games and I was pleased with the level of competition,” said Stellato. “They [Unionville] made eight three’s in the first half and we really just could never climb out of that hole. I was happy with how we played and now we really have to focus on continuing that into the second half of the season.”

That second half climb started on Tuesday night, as Freedom hits the road again this week against Pocono Mountain East (3-8). The Pates then travel to Northampton (6-5) on Friday. The team has only played two home games through their first 13 contests, a staggering fact when you consider their ability to be sitting three games over .500 at this point of the season.

After this week’s road treks, Freedom will play six out of their final nine at home, but with the schedule getting tougher in the second half, Stellato will take any advantage he can get with his group.

“We’ve done a good job putting ourselves in position to clinch a district berth,” he said. “I don’t think anyone really expected us to be 7-4 at this point, but I also think we left some games on the table too. There’s always room to get better and we’re going to have to do that in this part of the season because it’s going to be tough.”