The Pirates looked to chalk up a win as they headed into the Jan. 14 boys basketball game with Elizabeth.

Englewood came into the week with an overall 2-8 record while Elizabeth is 0-11. The Pirates coach said his teams should be competitive against Elizabeth and a win is possible.

However, the challenge is tougher Jan. 16 when Golden, one of the league leaders, comes to town.

Both contests will be played at Englewood High School, with the freshman game at 4 p.m., the JV game at 5:30 and the varsity scheduled to tip off at 7. A single ticket is good for all three games that are played in the EHS field house at the southeast end of the school building at 3800 S. Logan St.

The Pirates lost two tough battles last week, dropping the Jan. 7 game to Jefferson, 67-53, and losing the Jan. 9 game to Alameda, 66-49.

Stu Howard, Englewood’s head basketball coach, said both games were similar as the opponent built big leads in the first quarter and, despite solid play, the Pirates were not able to battle back and take the lead.

“We play well at times,” Howard said. “Now, if we can put it together and play well for four quarters, we should win some of our remaining games.”

Joe Howard led the Pirates in scoring and on the boards against Jefferson with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Teammate Kyle Jones had a good game with 10 points and six steals and Joel Pleiman helped his team with eight points. Cody Stivers was the assist leader with three.

Against Alameda, Howard was again the scoring leader with 15 points. He also had six rebounds and blocked two shots.

Joel Peiman got hot from three-point range and finished the night with 14 points, while Maurice Sanders had 12 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Sanders, a senior, is left handed and he said that helps him rebound and score points because most other players don’t know how to defend a left-handed player.

The senior works in the post position down inside. He said the Jan. 10 Alameda game was challenging and play was physical under the basket as players battled for open shots or to pull down the rebounds.