The Amherst Boys Basketball Team’s 13-13 record this past season doesn’t tell the full tale when it comes to the team’s improvement and competitive tenacity. The Falcons often battled the league’s best teams late into the fourth quarter, falling just short in the closing minutes and seconds against basketball powers like Bonduel, Iola, and Weyauwega-Fremont.
After floating around .500 for most of the season, the Falcons were trending up when they opened regional play against Westfield. A last-second rebound and putback by senior Colton Vander Laan secured a 57-55 win and a date with Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau in the regional semi-final, a game the Falcons would lose, 62-48, although it was much closer than the score indicates.
“I thought we had a great season,” said head coach Jarrett Davidson. “As seasons go, there are sometimes games we feel we should have and didn’t, and other games that were surprising. I think our group was really wired to the common goal of success this year and it showed in the hard work they put in during the season for each other. Each practice was a grind, and we embraced the toughness of the season.”
The team finished 5-9 in conference play, but was 7-6 at home. Statistically, the Falcons averaged 54 points per game this season on 44 percent shooting from the field (34.5 percent from beyond the arc). The team shot just under 61 percent from the charity stripe, a spot for improvement next season.
“It’s always a tough conference, but hopefully finishing the upper half would be an ideal goal. I think there are some teams that will be down in talent next year, and we should capitalize on those teams,” said Davidson. “I think building a .500 season is a good second year for us with myself leading the program in the right direction. I think there are some great things to come. Our goal is to beat last year, have a better record, move up in the standings, and get to a regional final game.”
The team was led by seniors Vander Laan, Sully Perkins, Michael Glodowski, Cannen Hodges, and Gibson Kenyon. Among them four starters, necessitating a rebuild going forward.
“It was awesome to see my first true class since I’ve been here start as freshmen to seniors in my time with the program. It’s so cool to see the growth not only as basketball players but as young men that our youth should aspire to be like,” Davidson said.
Vander Laan, a second team all-conference selection known for his great “hops,” finished second on the team in scoring (14.3 ppg) and rebounds (3.8 ppg). He moves on to track and field where he will be formidable in the 400 meters and other sprints.
Perkins, a Division 2 football recruit, averaged 11.9 points per game while leading the team in field goal percentage (48.3) and 3-point field goal percentage (45.6). He also led the team in rebounds with nearly six per game.
Glodowski, a physical playmaker and spirited leader, led the team in assists with more than three per game while chipping in nearly seven points per game on 48 percent shooting. An all-around athlete, he was good for three or more rebounds per contest as well. He’ll now grab his bat and head for the baseball diamond.
Hodges was a stalwart on defense, adding muscle and hustle to the interior defense. He averaged a couple of rebounds and points per game, but stats don’t tell the story when it comes to his contributions as a role player who gave them hard minutes.
The team returns junior Taylan McCormick, an honorable mention all-conference selection. McCormick led the team in scoring (16 points per game) and was second on the team in rebounds with nearly five per game.
Key returning underclassmen include sophomores Antonio Vaquera (4.7 points per game) and Lucas Leary (1.8 ppg). Vaquera flashed promise, finishing among the team’s top rebounders at four per contest and Leary hit some big treys in key moments.
