Bethlehem Catholic always expects to compete for the district championship and this winter won’t be any different for the Golden Hawks.

Coming off a 12-5 campaign last year, which saw them lose to eventual state champion, Allentown Central Catholic in the District 11 4A title game, Becahi brings back most of their lineup to enter this season as one of the league favorites.

“We have a lot of upper classmen and experience returning so that always sets the bar high,” said head coach Scott McClary, “but every team is its own story, so this group will have to figure out what their identity and personality will be. I just want them to have fun, get better and reach our potential one day at a time.”

Back for the Hawks are Edixon Gomez, (Sr. guard), Ryan Glassmacher (Sr. F) Steve Recchio (Sr. F) Louis Vidal (Sr. guard), Alex Cercado (Jr. guard), Jared Richardson (Sr. F) and Kevin Soto (Sr. guard).

Newcomers are Jorge Soriano (So. guard), Josh Brown (So. F), Laz Caarrasquilla (Fr. F), Nate Mullaney (Jr. guard), Aiden Rompilla (Jr. guard) and Jaiden Ellis Lahey (Jr. F).

Gomez and Glassmacher were both all-conference players last year and Richardson is back after missing last season due to a football injury. It’s fair to say the Hawks will be one of the best teams in the conference this year, but McClary knows they have to prove it.

“I am confident that we can score the ball, but much of our success will ride on how much we grow defensively,” McClary said. “We have really good versatility across positions and will look to take advantage of that. We could see a lineup with 4 lefties in it. The EPC looks to be as competitive as it has ever been so finding consistency will be a tall challenge, but our guys welcome the challenge.”

Becahi opens the season Friday at Notre Dame in the Jeff Dailey Memorial, where they’ll play LaAcademia Charter. They host Freedom on Dec. 14 in their EPC opener.