By Dylan O’Toole
Round Table Sports Editor
The Middletown High School boys basketball team seems to have a different swagger this year, a sense of hope. The Knights want to forget about last season’s winless record, and look forward.
“We try not to look back a lot on the past,” said MHS senior guard, Brad Rinehart. “What happened last year is done and over with.”
The Knights have started the 2013-14 season 4-2, and are playing with a newfound confidence.
Middletown is coming off of a great performance at the Hubs Holiday Classic- with two wins, coming against North Hagerstown, and Smithsburg respectively.
MHS sophomore Clay Smith led the way for the Knights with 15 points in their narrow victory over North Hagerstown on Dec. 26.
Junior Will McClain dominated the smaller Smithsburg team, and finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Fellow junior Ian Roy led the way for the Knights with 15 points.
Seniors, and football stars for the Knights, Tim Schumacher and Rinehart have been key for the Knights this season.
Schumacher has been important for the Knights on defense, and finished the Smithsburg game with five steals.
Rinehart, after scoring points in bunches last season, has taken a back seat to the underclassmen. Rinehart has settled into more of a distributing role this season, and finished the Smithsburg game with eight assists.
“It was a little a rought at first [coming back from football],” said Rinehart. “The football players have gotten back into the flow pretty quick this year.”
The Knights have a chance to show Frederick County they are for real after the next few games. Middletown has three home games this week, all against teams that have losing records.
This stretch begins Jan. 6 against 1-4 Francis Scott Key High School, continues Wednesday against Linganore, and finishes Thursday against the hated Walkersville Lions.
“We understand the potential we have this year,” said Rinehart. “Everyone has bought into this season a lot more than in previous years.”
