The Goshen Eagles basketball team has its fair share of hardship over the season, handed a 1-4 regular season area record with the only win coming against Central-Hayneville.

But head coach Pate Harrison and his Eagles aren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet, and with the experience they’ve earned this season they have a chance to turn everything around when they go to Hayneville on Friday for the area tournament.

The Eagles will open up their postseason with a match against Calhoun, a team that handed them a pair of losses back in January.

It would be easy to be intimidated, but the Eagles are prepared to prove themselves on the postseason stage.

“They beat us twice this year and it’s a must win for us,” Harrison said. “We’re looking forward to playing them, we know that we have the ability to keep up with them we just have to focus and slow them down.”

Harrison and his team have been working hard to bring balance to the mistakes of the past games with Calhoun, most notably the high turnover rate that hurt the eagles earlier in the season.

“We can’t turn the ball over,” Harrison said. “We’ve done it too much in the last two games but if we can maintain possession we have a good shot at winning. We’ve practiced hard and put in a few things to help shorten our passing distances and cut down on turnovers.”

Calhoun brings a blistering speed to the court, and one of the biggest factors in the game, and Goshen staying alive in the area tournament, will depend on the Eagles ability to slow down the pace of the game and take control of the tempo away from Calhoun.

“We’re going to work on controlling the pace and slowing things down,” Harrison said. “Calhoun has only one speed and that’s fast. If our guys can get out there and slow them down we can make them uncomfortable and start making things go our way.”

It’s still a long road ahead for the Eagles, with the winner of the Highland Home vs. Central game ready to step up and fight should Calhoun fall, and winning the area would require a strong showing from Harrison and his Eagles.

But despite a mighty challenge ahead the Eagles are prepared to fight and are confident in their ability to play.

“We’re doing things the right way,” Harrison said. “We’re finishing the season and we feel good. We lost to Central twice and Calhoun twice this season but just picked up a good win against Daleville and that’s going to give our players a little confidence going into the tournament.”

Goshen will open the area tournament with their match against Calhoun at on Friday, Jan. 10, at 5 p.m., with Central vs. Highland Home to follow at 6:30.

Should Goshen bring in a win, they will play the final round on Monday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m.

All games will be played at Central High School in Hayneville, Ala.