The boys basketball team is back in action. After having a season full of COVID-19 last year, the team is back and ready to start a new season. Although masks are still required in the stands, the boys still showed that with a different year, they can still make the best of it. This year the team has six seniors, with two of them being key players, seniors Carter Huggins and Carter Slowinski. Two freshmen will join the varsity team, Dekota Roberts and Landon Chmura. Many underclassmen will still play up. 

The first practice was on Nov. 19 and many practices have been added. On Nov. 30, the team headed to Rochester to take on the Rams in a scrimmage. The team played hard and learned what they needed to work on during practice. While practicing hard, they got ready for another scrimmage. The team took on Western Beaver at home on Dec. 7, and with each quarter they had a close score. The team practiced harder each day for an upcoming tournament. 

On Dec. 10, the team headed to a tournament at South Side to face Western Beaver. This game ended in a 67-52 loss for Freedom. Huggins scored 11 points. Senior Joshua Yeck scored 10. These key players helped out the team. The team headed back to South Side on Saturday, Dec. 11 for day two of the tournament. The team fell short against the Rams with a 62-42 loss. Although the team experienced these losses, at least it was early in the season so they have room for improvement. The team has many practices after school planned. 

“The season is going good, we just need to improve in some places,” Roberts said. 

On Dec. 14, the Bulldogs hosted their first official home game for the season. The team took action on the court against the Riverside Panthers. The game was close with the Bulldogs’ scoring. The team fell short by a score of 52-49. Slowinski and Huggins led the team. Slowinski scored 19 points and Huggins scored 12. With this being the first official home game, fans packed the stands, along with the student section. The theme was “Red Out.” Although away fans are allowed, masks are still mandatory. To also cheer on the team, the winter cheerleaders are back in action. They will cheer them on at every home game and will perform to the fans during halftime. 

“I’m looking forward to having a positive record,” Roberts said. 

Last year, the team was not happy with their record. They hope to practice more to get wins at the games. The underclassmen hope to stand up and be able to play whenever they are put in. The team is getting excited for what the rest of the season is going to bring. 

“I feel that going forward we need to bring up the intensity in games and I look forward to seeing what we can do when we’re focused on the game,” junior Nicholas Paganini said.