By Ryan O’connor

To accurately gauge how much the Pelham boys basketball team has improved since the beginning of the season, review these two results: the Pythons opened the season on Dec. 11 with a 81-60 loss at Hollis-Brookline, but eight weeks and 12 games later, Pelham defeated the same Cavaliers, 47-43, at home.

“That’s a team that blasted us a month and a half ago in their gym, and they played just as good as they did then,” said Pelham head coach Todd Kress. “The difference is, defensively, we showed up tonight. For the first time in four years, we never once trapped the ball the whole night. We just played straight-up, man-to-man, in-your-face defense.”

In addition to the best defense his 11-3 Pythons have shown in some time, Kress said they have found an identity.

“Even down five at the start of the fourth quarter, guys in the huddle were saying, ‘Come on, we can do this. This is our gym.’ A month and a half ago that wouldn’t have been the case. They would have been yelling at each other, and they would have been doubting me,” he said of a squad that began the season 2-3 before embarking on its current nine-game winning streak.

“Right now, they have a lot of confidence in me. I have a lot of confidence in who I’m putting out there. They’re believing in themselves, and it’s showing on the court.”

It was guard Justin Hojlo who propelled the Pythons to victory.

The junior guard, who three nights later eclipsed 1,000 points in his career, took over late against Hollis-Brookline, scoring 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter after being shut out in the third.

Though Pelham entered the final frame down five, Hojlo stole the ball at half court in the opening seconds and drove to the basket.

After notching two free throws to bring his team within one point, 36-35, Hojlo knocked down a three from the top of the key and drew another foul in the process.

He completed the four-point play, then stole the ball and scored on a flashy layup to give the Pythons a 41-36 lead, which they never relinquished.

“He’s been under the weather and hasn’t really practiced much this week,” said Kress, who called several timeouts in the fourth quarter just to give his star a breather. “He gave this team everything he had, and he dominated that fourth quarter like you want your best player to do. And it wasn’t just him. He was making his teammates better, and that’s what makes Justin so special.”

Ricky Costa and Jamie Vaiknoras each contributed eight points, and freshman Stephen Spirou added seven.

“We’re on a nice little roll. We just need to keep this going,” said Kress. “The important thing now is for us to realize that we only have five games left. Sure, they’re all against .500 teams or worse, but those are dangerous teams at this time of year, and we can’t afford to lose another game if we want to go in as one of the top four seeds.”

Hojlo, who needed 11 points against Bow on Tuesday, Feb. 5, to become the quickest Python to hit 1,000 points, scored 25 in the 62-59