I’m not one to panic.

In fact, it’s likely that I’ll be the one that under reacts to a dire situation and pays the price.

You can chalk that up to either being cool under fire — or flat out just not realizing that the bullets are flying.

But just after the start of the new year is my favorite time in the winter season because now is that median when each team can make or break its season.

There has been just enough time for every team to realize what it’s good at, what it needs work on and make the decision to pack it in or win.

Take the Arlington boys and girls hoops squads as an example.

Both teams are in seemingly similar positions, with a 1-3 record in the Wesco North but the two appear to be heading in different directions. After a rocky start, the lady Eagles have won three of their last four games and appear to be getting a better sense of what they are capable of.

Coach Nathan Davis is getting significant contributions from at least three out of a group of Megan Abdo, Quinn Kesselring, Ginny Wilson and Stefanie Scmuck in each of those wins.

But that isn’t the only improvement, as I’m sure Davis would point out the defense — coaches love to do that.

The Arlington girls’ defense hasn’t allowed 50 points in it’s last three games after allowing as much in each of its first five. That is quite a turnaround and as positive a note as can be expected coming into the second half.

In contrast is the boys team, which has lost three of its last four. Defense isn’t really the problem thus far — the offense is more of a concern. In three of those last four games, the boys have produced at least one single-digit quarter offensively.

Those droughts can add up, but at this point, they are merely something the boys need to work on to participate in postseason play.

What I see as becoming the solution is guards Zach Cooper and Griffin Ginnis making teams pay for paying extra attention to forward Eric Carlson. Both Cooper and Ginnis have the shooting ability to make Arlington a team with a long-range threat.

Their development will open defenses up and create mismatches with Arlington’s stout, but quick lineup — and it will give Cooper the opportunity to improvise on the fastbreak.