The boys varsity basketball team has been playing tough and practicing their hardest for the last three months. They started practicing in November and officially began the season Nov. 21, 2016 with a 71-69 win against Belvidere North.

The season ended Feb. 27 with a 78-48 loss against Rockford Jefferson. Unfortunately this was the first day of Regionals and the team was not able to continue in the IHSA tournament.

“Regionals was fun and something new to me,” junior Brett Bigden said. “I felt like we got a fair draw and they came out hot and we couldn’t let them do that if we want a chance. Once they started hot they gained confidence.”

The boys ended the season with a 7-22 record, including regionals and other tournaments.

“I think the season went okay, we were in a lot of close games and won some and didn’t win others,” Bigden said. “We would have liked to pull a few more of those out and we could have been tougher against the better teams.”

There were many tough games, but one that stuck out as a great game was on Dec. 3, 2016 against Crystal Lake Central. The boys won 58-55 in overtime thanks to a three pointer scored by senior Stephen Browne.

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“[Andrew] Fulcer and I had to switch off guarding [Alex] Timmerman who was eight inches taller and 60 pounds heavier than us,” senior Michael Parks said. “It was a great game though because Browne hit a game tying 3 for us at the buzzer.”

Despite a tough season, the varsity juniors are determined to create a better basketball program. They will be working together all of the off season to be prepared for the next season. However, this season will be taken as a learning experience and not forgotten about.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Parks said. “The struggles we went through as a team is what built our relationships with each other and made it such a great group to be around.”