As fall sports come to a screeching halt and winter approaches, with the ever hopeful snow days and delays, we come to the start of the winter sports season. After many weeks of off season practicing, the boys’ basketball team prepared for their new season.

With a 1-21 record last year, the team has been working towards every sports teams’ goal: making it to playoffs. They’ve been working long and hard to obtain their goals, and even the coaches agree.

“Given the hard work and practice we’ve been putting in so far, we’re hoping to have a better season than last year,” Coach Greg Cercone said. He expressed that six out of eight teams in their section were qualified to go to playoffs last year, and he believes that they’ll be in the position to compete for one of those spots this year.

This year though, the team has many underclassmen players, leaving only one senior and four upperclassmen all together. With five of the freshman players contributing their own strengths to the team, they will most likely spend their high school careers playing together.

“Being the only senior sometimes takes its toll,” Senior Brenton Harrison said. Harrison has been on the team for two years. “I have to have self control at all times and motivate everyone to do the same.”

But, being that there are only three juniors, Harrison isn’t the only one who has the pressure put on him. There are nine total new players on the team, all of whom are looking to the more experienced players for leadership.

“I think I can hold my own, but it’s good experience because we’re such a young team and we’re going to be together for a while,” Freshman Santino Guandolo said.

This season, the team has a game lined up against Seneca Valley at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Dec. 19.

“Playing on a pro basketball court sounds amazing and all, but we have to keep in mind that when we play, we play to make a statement,” Harrison said.

This game also comes with its rewards. The team plans to stay for the Cleveland Cavaliers game immediately after their own.

Also, this year, the team is welcoming in two new assistant coaches who were approved by the school board Thurs., Dec. 4th. Volunteer Varsity Assistant Coach Ben Welling and Assistant Varsity Coach Dan Costo have to acquire a 1-time coaching certificate by July 2016 in order to continue coaching.

For the start of the season, the boys played a tight game against Aquinas Academy. There was a total of two dunks by Senior Brenton Harrison, number 23, on the court.

Freedom pulled through 14-10 during the first quarter only to fall behind 23-21 during the second. After a short half time performance by the cheerleaders, Freedom came back with a score of 41-32. Both of Harrison’s dunks were made during the final quarter where FHS boys basketball managed to come out on top with a final score of 61-49 against AA.

The boys successfully jump start their 2014 season with a prospectful look at the rest of the upcoming games. Be sure to fill the stands with students at any home games to show full support.