The boys basketball team kicked off their 2024-2025 season with two scrimmages. On Nov. 23 the boys played a scrimmage match against Western Beaver. This was their first away game. On Nov. 25, the boys played in a scrimmage match at home against the Environmental Charter School. The junior varsity team and varsity team alternated time on the court and refreshed their memories on how to work with one another. The boys are led by their coach, Casey Kaiser, who can be seen on the sidelines proudly managing his team.

So far, the boy’s basketball team has played six games, including the scrimmage matches. On Dec. 6 the boys faced off in a tipoff against Brentwood, and on Dec. 7 they played against Geibel Catholic. Both games were away and a part of the Brentwood tournament. When playing against Brentwood, the boys scored 45 points and the opposing team scored 57 points. The score of the game played against Geibel Catholic was 50-61, with Freedom falling to Geibel Catholic.

On Dec. 9 the boys played their first real home game against the 5-0 Union Scotties with the score being a solid 5-19 in the first period, 13-39 in the second period and 17-49 in the third period. Decked out in their home-game white, they finished the game with a score of 27-56. On Dec. 10 they played an away game against Winston Thurston, with a final score of 38-78. These games are part of the record but not in the section.

Freedom is part of Section 1, Class 3A, meaning that they will also play Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Elwood City, Mohawk, New Brighton and Riverside in the upcoming weeks. Section play starts for all of the teams on December 12th or 13th depending on the school. 

So far, Freedom is 0-3, but there are still many games left for the boys basketball team. Anything is possible this early in the season, and team members are full of hope as to what the rest of the year holds.

“I’m looking forward to improvement, really from last season, and getting better as a team. [It’s nice to] see a little growth, and people are just together as a team. I think we’ll get some wins here and there, it really just depends on the growth of the team,” Jalen Mohrbacher (10) said.

The players are not the only ones who are optimistic about the season; Freedom’s announcer and grade 11 History teacher, Cole Eged, also is looking forward to the season.

“I’m excited, it feels like the kids on the team have a different energy this year, I believe a lot of that credit should go to the new coach hire, Casey Kaiser, and he seems to have a different energy with the kids,” Eged said.