The varsity men’s basketball team was invited to play in the prestigious National High School Invitational at Georgetown Prep over spring break. Seniors Jenny Hottle and Kristin Marzullo had the opportunity to join the team during their trip. As reporters and photographers, they documented the trip for ESPN Rise. The following article is the first in a multiple-part series about the team’s experience and will appear on the ESPN Rise Student Blog.

The John Carroll Patriots are ready to bring down the house…or at least the net.

At Wednesday night’s shoot-around in the Georgetown Prep gym, sophomore Mike Owona slam-dunked, only to bring the entire hoop down with him. Junior Denzel Varner nearly collided with the fallen hoop but managed to avoid injury.

Despite the minor disruption, likely caused by a loose pin, the players continued their practice with high energy and intensity.

“It’s a basketball game, and you’re ready to go,” Coach Tony Martin said, expressing the importance of treating every drill like the real game.

For a team that just ate a huge dinner at the Cheesecake Factory—chicken wings, pizza and cheeseburgers—the players didn’t seem too tired or full to play. Instead, they jumped right onto the court and into shooting drills.

After a warm-up, Martin told the players to take in their surroundings and to get acclimated to the new gym. Then, they moved into the next drill, practicing defensive situations.

Martin seemed satisfied with his team’s performance, noting the players’ shooting precision.

The Patriots play top-seeded Montrose Christian High School (Rockville, Maryland) at 2 p.m. today. During a video review session after practice, Martin explained the key to winning. “All we gotta do is play well,” he said.

Well-drilled in getting their hands up, Montrose has a strong defense, according to Martin. However, “they’re looking for the ball, not looking to defend,” he said.

With both the MIAA and Baltimore Catholic League championships under their belts, the players feel more than ready to take on their competition. According to Martin, “[Montrose has] a lot of talent, but we know what we’re dealing with.”

The John Carroll – Montrose Christian game will air on ESPNU at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 31.

Jenny Hottle is the Online Chief and Kristin Marzullo is the Photo and Design Chief for “The Patriot” and jcpatriot.com.