After going 2-10 last season, Freedom is poised to make a jump this winter on the hardwood.

However, head coach Joe Stellato knows they’ll only be able to take those steps if they buy into the work that needs to be done to compete.

The Pates return nearly their entire roster this season and will start five juniors with a roster that Stellato is confident going 8-10 deep.

“We have been working hard at playing together as a team and getting better every day,” said Stellato. “If we can defend and play together we can be a playoff team that could cause some fits for people late in the season. If we cannot get better at defense and do not play together as a team, we will struggle to go .500. The players have to buy into a team game and be unselfish to win. These are the things we are working on early in the season and hope to have fixed by game one.”

Returning for the Pates are Josh Washington (C), Deonzae Bright (F), KJ Mangroo (PG), Jaden Tillett (F), Blaine Macllroy (C), Joseph Dew (G), Dominick Leininger (F), Orion Richardson (G), Cristian Morot (G), Aaron Levy (PG) and Nick Ellis (G).

Ellis was an all-conference player last year and has been a three-year starter for the Pates. MacIlroy is the lone senior on the team, but with the Pates taking their lumps last year with a young team, this year’s group should be more seasoned for the EPC.

“Our goal is to make the playoffs,” said Stellato.

Freedom opens the season on Dec. 14 against Bethlehem Catholic.