** Guest Blogger **
Eric Hendrickson
Silas's first year of school basketball (and I believe the first year, other than when he was really young, that he was on a team I wasn't coaching). The coaches said in the preseason meeting that it might be a tough year. I am pleased to say that the boys had a pretty good season.
Top Row, left to right - Kyndel, Stencil, Julian, and Jacob
Middle Row, left to right - Wyatt, Ryan, Kiyan, Silas, and Kael
Bottom Row, left to right - Kendrick, Kamden, Klay, Hunter, Paxton, and Ryder
Not Pictured - Coach Flax and Coach Clasen
Game #1 vs. Prairie Hills away 1/15/26 (lost)
We started off the year playing against the team that ended up being first in the league (headed into the end-of-season league tournament). We lost by 12 but played pretty well. Silas played point guard this season. I project him more as a shooting guard or small forward in high school, but it was good for him to get the experience of being point guard.
Game #2 vs. Winfield away 1/20/26 (won)
Winfield was one of the weaker teams in the league. We won by 15. Silas had 13 points, one three, and 4/6 free throws
Game #3 vs. Wellington home 1/22/26 (won)
Wellington was one of the weaker teams in the league. We did not play very well and barely won the game. Silas made one three pointer.
Game #4 vs. Mulvane 1/26/26
cancelled due to winter weather rescheduled to 2/3/26 (lost 50-21)
The score looks really lopsided, which it was, but we were also the first team that Mulvane didn't beat by more than 30 points. The Mulvane Middle School team is made up of a travel team that joined together to play in Mulvane.
Game #5 vs. Rose Hill 1/29/26 (lost)
Silas hit two three's.
Game #6 vs. Haysville Middle 1/31/26 (lost 31-25)
We played the other Haysville team tonight. It is hard to have two Haysville teams be rivals in middle school and then be on the same team in high school.
Arnez and Silas played on an advanced YMCA basketball team for about a year and a half together, coached by Arnez Sr. and myself. They are good friends.
#34 is Blake who also played on the advanced YMCA team with Arnez and Silas.
Game #7 vs. Augusta 2/5/26 (won 44-40 in overtime)
Augusta was a good team that we played really well. Silas had 15 points in this game.
Game #8 vs. Clearwater 2/9/26 (lost)
We should have beat this team. We didn't play our best basketball. Silas had 8 points.
Game #9 vs. McPherson 2/12/26 (won)
McPherson did not have a very strong team, so we won this game easily.
Game #10 vs. Circle 2/17/26 (lost)
This was a game we could have won but we played a little flat and turned the ball over way too many times.
Game #11 vs. Ark City 2/19/26 (won)
We dominated this game.
Game #12 vs. Eldorado 2/23/26 (won)
This might have been the easiest game of the year. I believe Silas had 15 points.
End of Season Tournament quarter/Semi 2/28/26
Game #1 vs. HMS - 9:00 am (lost)
We were in a 3 way tie with HMS and Augusta. We were hoping to get the 3rd seed, but ended up with the 5th seed. We rematched HMS. We played a 2-3 zone for about 3/4 of the game, which was not our best defense. When we switched to a pressure defense, the game got closer. However, it was too late in the game. I am happy to say that HMS ended up winning the tournament. (Again, it will be good, in high school, when these two teams HWMS and HMS can come back together and play as ONE TEAM.)
Fun Zone at Pizza Ranch later that afternoon with his fans from that morning's game...
We ended the season with 6 wins and 7 losses. I thought they played well together. There were also a few kids that had never really played basketball before, so I see them improving a lot for next year. Go Gorillas!
