With 12 games under their belt, Whitehall’s Tanner Dogmanits realized where his team has stood - and what they needed to do. The Zephyrs were sitting at 4-8.

“We didn’t start the season the way we wanted to,” said Dogmanits. “We lost close games that were winnable. We had to execute better and fix the minor mistakes throughout the games.”

Head coach Jeff Jones has been impressed with Dogmanits’ unselfish play and his leadership qualities. He was the football team’s quarterback, and has maintained a strong stance among his teammates as the team’s point guard.

“Tanner’s not concerned about stats,” noted Jones. “He just wants to win. There have been games where he really looks to get others involved and then other games when he realizes we need him to score a little more.

“He’s our point guard on offense and does a nice job playing our one position on defense when we play our matchup defense. He’s a winner.”

For Dogmanits, playing the point isn’t anything new.

“Paying the point is what I’ve been doing throughout my basketball career,” said Dogmanits. “I like getting the ball to the shooters and setting up the offense to run a play.

“I didn’t work much on basketball this summer because of football.”

Dogmanits, a junior whose older brother Talon is a senior on the team, likes the bond building among his teammates. Sophomore and first-year starter Cole Rozycki.

“Our chemistry as a team has always been there,” said Dogmanits. “It’s just the fact that we need to finish games and play all four quarters.”

The Zephs finished the season at 9-7 making both the EPC and District 11 playoffs. As a seven seed, they lost a hard-fought OT game to Northampton in the opening round. They had to wait to play again in districts, Again the seven seed, the Zephs knocked off Pocono Mountain West before falling to Liberty. Needing a win to make states, the Zephs defeated Pocono Mountain East before eventually losing a close game to Methacton in states.