During its last four games, the Pinelands Regional High School boys basketball team averaged a couple more points per game than it had during its first six games. However, despite a 3-3 start to the season through nearly three weeks, the Wildcats have struggled a bit more defensively, losing their last four.

Three of those defeats occurred last week, the latest being a 60-31 downer against Shore Conference foe Ocean Township. The Spartans (5-5) took a 14-6 lead by the end of the first quarter and cruised from there, using an excellent transition game and a strong physical presence underneath…