Credit to Reina Murrell

This season basketball had a record 5-20, starting the season off with a 70-28 win over Fort Zumwalt East back in November. Every day the team will practice for roughly two hours, even having hour-long practices on game days. During the pre-season the FHN basketball team played in a fall league, head coach Larry Green also held after school workouts for players to lift weights, run, and get in extra practice to prepare for the upcoming season. 

After taking a win over FZE, the team went on to lose two more games against both Pattonville and Ritenour. Having a difficult start to the season, the team knew something needed to change. Hopes were getting low as every game passed, unable to keep a streak, on top of also losing valuable teammates. Practices became more intense, harsh, and demanding of each player on the team, as the season continued you could notice the change of pace on the court. 

This season we have had many of our players go above and beyond with athleticism, one of our players is 6’3 junior Elijah Bollinger, with a total of 351 points averaging roughly 14.6 per game. He has become a name to remember, being a great offensive presence for this team; not only on offense but defensively Bollinger had 156 rebounds and 42 steals. One of his most noticeable games was against Francis Howell High where he had a total of 27 points.

“It felt good that I could lead my team and help them whenever they needed it, and just seeing our record made me work hard every game,” Bollinger said. 

Another highlighted player is 6’8 senior Jackson Calhoun, with a total of 184 points for the season averaging about 9.7 points per game. One of his best games was against Francis Howell Central where he had a total of 20 points, a personal record for him; across the whole season he had defensive stats of 68 rebounds and 27 blocks. Even after breaking his hand at the beginning of the season it never stopped him from showing out every game, quickly becoming a reliable player every night when they needed a strong presence. 

“The chance to play at a higher level post-high school pushed me to give 100% every time I stepped on the court,” Calhoun said. 

Throughout the season, the team has experienced many losses. Never failing to back down from challenges, FHN continued to fight every game day to prove they were strong. Looking to next season, many students and players hope to see an improvement to the program as time passes.