If Catasauqua wished to succeed on the hardwood this winter, it simply will be due to their sheer determination. It certainly won’t be attributed to their height as the Roughies’ tallest player to take the court will be 6-foot-2.

Simply put, size will be a factor.

“This is probably the smallest team I have ever coached,” said veteran head coach Eric Snyder, who is beginning his 25th year at the helm. “We are really, really small. But we have had some very good practices that have been intense.

“These guys have a good chemistry with each other and they play hard together. We will just have to work harder than our opponents this year.”

The Roughies will also look to get back to the playoffs since they went to consecutive district finals in 2013 and 2014. They posted a 4-18 mark in 2015 and finished with a 7-16 mark last season.

Within their search, the Roughies will return with a good amount of depth and some experience as they will have one lone senior in 6-2 forward Colon Hawk, their tallest player.

Junior guard Isaiah Graves is the team’s returning, leading scorer, as Graves averaged roughly 15 points per contest. He will be joined by fellow junior guards Andrew Brett, Seth Chase, Shane Dolon and Cam Ritter along with forwards Cullen Bond and Joey Sparacello.

“Isaiah goes to the hole well,” stated Snyder. “He will need to be more productive with his outside shooting. Andrew Brett is a hard worker and a very smart player. He should be able to help us.

“Cullen Bond has looked well and he can help us down low. Joey Sparacello has some size, but he is working himself back from a football injury.”

Others in the mix will be sophomore guards Andrew Martinez, D’Angelo Martinez, Devon Troxell, Jason Schneck, and Cody Velez along with freshman Jalen Green.

“Our sophomores will be ready to go,” added Snyder. “They had a good summer and during workouts. Jalen Green will be a starter for us and he has a lot of talent. He can be a special kind of player as he can do everything out there for us.”

The Roughies will open the season against Nazareth at home Friday. They will begin Colonial League play at Notre Dame Monday.

If Catty is return to district play, it will be well earned.

“We have to play with a lot of guts and intensity,” he stressed. “Everything we earn will come with a battle. We do have some good speed and quickness and we have some good ballhandlers. It will be a real test for us.”