With the pre-season and tournament schedule behind them, the Point Loma High boys basketball team is passing and shooting its way to its best record in recent years.

With last Friday’s dramatic come-from-behind 49-47 City League victory at La Jolla, the Pointers have a nine-game winning streak going (16-2 overall) as they move through the league season. That dominance will be tested tonight when the team travels to Madison (14-6 overall) for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against the Warhawks who share first place with the Pointers, both teams bringing 3-0 league marks to the court.

Head coach Josh Aros, now in his ninth year, recalled his first team (2016-17) as the one with the next best start to his current team. That team finished 19-8 overall, 7-3 in the league, and won two CIF playoff games before being eliminated by Mount Miguel. Aros has similar high hopes as this season progresses.

Aros utilizes a concise set of goals for his players and they have led to the team’s current success.

“Our team isn’t very big,” Aros notes, “So we like to run, push, catch and shoot. We like to put up 60 points per game and so far I think we’re right around that. On defense, we try to hold our opponents to 45.”

Statistics support Aros’s goal. On offense, his players have scored 1,163 points (a 64.6 average) and allowed 909 points (a 50.5 average).

The win at La Jolla ended a five-game home winning streak for the Vikings, who led by as many as eight points before a furious Pointer rally saw them take the lead in the game’s final minutes and hold on for the win.

Aros, who is a special education teacher, has had many hours to observe his players during practices, games, and other team events and he has a theory about his team’s success.

“I think it’s the buy-in (to his program),” Aros said. In addition, “They all like each other, they’re all friends and they play hard for each other.”

With league play ending Feb. 13, the Pointers have games against Coronado, Canyon Hills, La Jolla, Mira Mesa, and Madison.

“I believe our league is very even,” Aros said. “We beat Coronado by one, Canyon Hills by nine, and La Jolla by two tonight.” His Pointers are ranked No. 24 by MaxPreps overall in the San Diego CIF section while Madison (No. 17 overall) and Mira Mesa (No. 9 overall) are ranked above them.

In CIF’s Div. III, however, the Pointers are ranked No. 1 which would give them a top seed for playoffs that begin March 1.

Looking at team statistics, scoring leaders are senior Grant Stewart (18.6 points per game), junior Na’Sean Hardy (12.4), and sophomore Jax Marple (a transfer from San Diego High) with 10.3.

Field goal percentage leaders are Stewart (49%), Marple, and senior Trevor Dorris (45% each).

Dorris has handed out 64 assists, Stewart 51, and Hardy 41.

Free throw leaders are Stewart (70%), with Marple and Hardy tied at 65%.

Rebounding shows Hardy (7.7 per game) leading with Stewart (6.4) and Marple (4.0) following.

Dorris leads with assists (3.8 per game) with Stewart (3.0) and Hardy (2.4) close behind.

Hardy, Stewart, and Marple are nearly equal in steals per game with 2.6, 2.5, and 2.3 respectively.

OTHER WINTER SPORTS

Girls basketball: 4-12 overall, 0-2 in league.

Boys soccer: 4-5-1 overall, 0-2 in league.

Girls soccer: 5-4-1 overall, 1-1-1 in league.

Girls water polo: 4-5-1 overall, 0-0 in league.

Boys and girls wrestling: results unavailable.