Lacking two returning starters from last season has forced Mustang boys’ basketball underclassmen and other first-time varsity players to step into starting roles.
Gannon Cole, who was injured during the state football championship, and Kaden Snyder, who graduated early to attend the University of Kansas football program, left the team with big shoes to fill in the starting lineup.
Despite the lost personnel, the Mustangs have held their own so far this season with an 8-8 overall record and third place in the district.
Head coach Chris Fear said the challenge has only helped the team improve.
“I don’t know that losing them helped us at the beginning,” Fear said, “but it seems that when we get to where we are now we have guys who I think are better basketball players because they had to adapt to those roles.”
Sophomore Grant Ostmeyer, one of the underclassman starters, said the team hurt from the loss at first, but they have recovered.
“Yeah, they were big players, but I feel like we filled those holes pretty well,” Ostmeyer said. “It definitely hurt a little bit, but I feel like we’ve regrouped from it and we’re good now.”
Senior Gannon Cole has now returned to the court from injury and said he is ready to play again.
“I’m excited to be back,” Cole said. “I think we’re going to do a lot better for the rest of the season. We’re doing a lot better than when we started the season and hopefully we can keep improving.”
Sophomore Kaeden Nienke, another underclassman starter, said that starting varsity so young is exciting.
“It’s a great feeling,” Nienke said, “but it also comes with its pressure to be good enough that the upperclassmen feel like they can trust you on the court.”
Nienke is also the team’s leading scorer, and said the pressure to succeed in that role can be overwhelming.
“Being the leading scorer is a really good feeling to have,” Nienke said. “But with that, you’re gonna have the pressure of people relying on you and criticizing you more. If you win, it’s the team. If you lose, it’s on you.”
Senior Tommy Payne, a first-year varsity starter, said what keeps him playing is knowing that his parents are there to support him.
“What motivates me on the court is being able to step up for the other guys to pick them up,” Payne said. “Also, always having my dad and my mom watching, because I know if I play hard, they’ll be proud of me.”
Nienke said looking ahead to the next few years, the team will continue to improve.
“I think we’re just going to continue to keep getting better under Coach Fear,” Nienke said. “He’s a great coach, and I think the future looks bright for SC basketball.”
