The question posed to Baldwin boys' basketball coach Kyle DeGregorio was clear-cut.

Why has his Highlanders team made such an improvement this season?

DeGregorio, though, couldn't put his finger on an accurate response.

"That's a great question," DeGregorio said, "but I don't know if it's a simple answer."

Whatever the answer may be, DeGregorio and his players seem to have found it.

The Highlanders have already amassed double digits in victories, something they had not accomplished in the previous four seasons. For the previous three campaigns combined, the Highlanders had a record of 20-47. This time around, however, they're 12-6 overall and currently sit in third place in Class AAAA Section 4 with a solid mark of 7-3.

Their 59-51 victory against Canon-McMillan Tuesday clinched a WPIAL playoff berth.

So, coach ... really, how did this happen?

"It might be a combination of a whole bunch of things," said DeGregorio, who is in his eighth season at Baldwin. "The common denominator is that we have a bunch of kids who have worked real hard in the offseason and during the season, and are real focused on being good players and a good team.

"Like most things, if you stick with it, you'll keep getting better."

The happenings of the past few weeks have been a testament to that point. After beginning the season 5-5, the Highlanders have hit their stride, winning seven of eight games, including seven in a row. That streak was halted by No. 1-ranked Mt. Lebanon last Friday.

Included in that run was a dramatic, 48-47 victory at Peters Township, in which senior Tom Murphy hit the winning shot with three seconds left.

"Last year we would have lost that game," DeGregorio said. "Playing in this section, you're margin for error is minimal. The difference between winning and losing could be one shot. It could be one turnover. This year we're just winning a lot of those games."

The Highlanders have done it with a cast of players who, for the most part, did not see major minutes for a senior-loaded team from a season ago. But DeGregorio stressed that the lack of significant previous varsity action doesn't make his team inexperienced. And if at any point it seems like it does, he's quick to place the responsibility of getting everybody on the same page onto his two captains, seniors Phil Einwag and Larry Wallace.

"They're not our leading scorers, but they are the glue that kind of holds us together," DeGregorio said. "I know they're going to play hard every night and I know they're going to keep the guys focused. They're really my coaches on the floor with their attitude, effort and also the court sense they bring."

Along with Murphy and Einwag, the Highlanders starting lineup consists of seniors Matt Costantino and Dave Graham, and junior Rob Zewe. Wallace is the sixth man, and DeGregorio's nine-man rotation is rounded out by juniors Nate Dawson and Tyler Szymanski, and sophomore Charlie Wallander.

An excellent defense has been key, particularly during their current streak of victories. In the past five games, the team's predominantly man-to-man approach has limited opponents to just 46 points per game.

"I think we're a good defensive team," DeGregorio said. "Our preparation helps us as far as who we want to take away and our help responsibilities. And I think we have a very patient offense. I think because of that and our ability to rebound, our opponents are scoring less."

This week set up to be a major barometer in regard to how much Baldwin has progressed.

Considering they dropped six of their final seven section games last season, the Highlanders' productive stretch run this season provides a concrete answer as to if this team is good enough to end a three-year postseason absence.

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