Reece Lopez knows what the task is ahead for the Catasauqua basketball team, and he also is aware of his role in it.

The Rough Riders will begin their final regular-season games with an 11-4 record, and they will be ready to defend their district title. Catty also is on the heels of Salisbury for the Colonial League West crown as well as the overall league title.

Lopez, a senior guard, is currently averaging 13 points per game, a jump over his 10 points last season. However, he has realized his effect on the offense.

“The season for me is going good,” said Lopez. “I’ve been pretty efficient and more of a threat. I’ve been working on my driving and touch around the rim and passing.”

Lopez has noticed a stronger bond among the team after a slow start. Even though the Roughies ended December with a 5-2 record, Lopez saw his team not hitting on all of its cylinders.

“I think our team is doing very well,” said Lopez. “At first, it was a bit shaky because we didn’t start off with the best record and we lacked communication.

“But now we have improved and play together. The team has been doing great and we definitely have come together since Christmas, we went on a run of winning multiple games in a row to boost our team morale.”

Head coach Eric Snyder has seen Lopez’s growth over the last four years.

“He has improved every year since his freshman year and he has grown,” said Snyder. “He was an excellent shooter, actually a very good three point shooter. As a freshman, he was a substitute coming off the bench.”

The following season, Lopez got a starting job along with his other backcourt mates.

“He has been starting along with Frankie Pujols and Hamaad Jenkins in our three guard offense since they were sophomores,” added Snyder about Lopez. “Every year Reece has become a better player. When he was a sophomore. Lopez mostly was a shooter. Last year as a junior, he became more aggressive and became a much better shooter off the dribble and he looked to penetrate more often.”

This season, Snyder is looking to Lopez as a complete player.

“This year as a senior, he has turned into a very good passer as well,” emphasized Snyder. “He uses his three-point, shooting ability and his ability to penetrate and pass and penetrate and pull up to his advantage and has made some excellent passes this year.

“When he is focused and locked in, he has become a very good defender and an excellent rebounder, but we have to keep him focused on that at times. Reece turned into an excellent player in more aspects than just shooting, which makes us a better team.”

Going into the last chapter of the season, Lopez will play his part to raise the Roughies’ play.