With three wins needed in the final 10 games, the Catasauqua girls’ basketball team can start to smell the scent of a district playoff berth, a goal that eluded them last season.

The Rough Riders began the week with an overall 8-4 record. Last week, they throttled Saucon Valley, 44-18, but they suffered a 45-30 defeat to Norte Dame. Catty believed the latter game was a barometer for their level of success. Senior Alivia Bear had a team-high 17 points in the Saucon Valley win, and sophomore Hailey Jenkins led the Roughies with 20 points in the Notre Dame loss.

“We had a solid team effort in the Saucon Valley win,” said Roughies’ head coach Mark Seremula. “Notre Dame was a tough game, and we didn’t shoot the ball well. Credit their defense, but it was a six-point game at the end of the third quarter.”

Jenkins also saw the Notre Dame as a pivotal one.

“Last week wasn’t our best week,” said Jenkins. “We played very well against Saucon Valley. We communicated well on defense and had some new scorers on offense.

“Notre Dame was a tough loss. We really wanted that win. We had some players that fell sick and that was a big part of it. We will put that game behind us and just focus on what we need to do.”

Jenkins believes her team has been challenged.

“I feel like we have already been tested with teams like Northwestern, Palmerton, and Notre Dame,” she added. “I do feel that I can take my team to a new level. We’ll just have to work together and play as a team, which I think we do a good job.”

Senior Delaney Troxell sees some similar pluses and minuses.

“Last week was a good week for us,” said Troxell. “Saucon was a great way to start the week, but the we fell short against Notre Dame,” she said. “Our team needs to communicate on defense more and continue to rebound like we know how.

“If we do that, then we will be fine for this upcoming week.”

Seremula knows his team will be tested this week with games at Pen Argyl and Palmerton.

“Hopefully, we get a chance to play Notre Dame again, and that will mean that we made he playoffs,” said Seremula. “Pen Argyl is always a tough place to play, but it’s a big game for us. Palmerton is unbeaten in the league and that will be another tough game.

“Those games will saw us what we are made of.”