The ball hits the floor, signaling the end of another season. The crowd looks to those on the bench—the tired, the injured, the young. The athlete lifts his eyes to see only one varsity player leaving the team to 13 first-year varsity players.

The boys basketball team finished their season Tuesday night in their last district game against Amarillo High.

“It’s really been a rebuilding year for us with only one senior,” junior Nathan Hoggatt said. “Our main objective was to learn and obviously to try to win every game but learning was a priority.”

Hoggatt said regardless of the challenges, he and the team stepped up when needed.

“It gave me a bigger role to fill—having to learn how to be a leader now so it can help me senior year,” Hoggatt said. “It helped a lot of us mature faster than it would have been if there were more seniors.”

Senior Parker Howe will be the only graduating varsity player. Howe said more than wanting a winning record this season, he wanted to be a better leader.

“My goal was to help the younger guys get to where they needed to be,” Howe said. “I want them to have success next season.”

Hoggatt said Coach Travis Schulte has taught him life skills he can use in his everyday life.

“We learn from Coach Schulte that basketball reflects life and all the hardships you go through represents a hardship you’ll go through later in your life,” Hoggatt said. “We’re learning how to live life after high school by playing basketball.”

Having a completely new team will change the dynamic next season, Hoggatt said.

“People might judge us off this season but we’re having a class of 13 returning varsity members,” Hoggatt said. “It’s going to be very different. It’s going to be completely opposite of this season.”

Howe said he has learned through practice mistakes are inevitable.

“We always have a strong focus while practicing,” Howe said. “Always practice hard and sharpen the edges, so once you get to the game even if you have some slip-ups, it’s not going to affect the team or your outcome as much.”

Hoggatt said he looks up to Coach Schulte.

“He was committed to us no matter how bad things were going at home for him,” Hoggatt said. “We felt he was there 100 percent of the time for us, giving it his all for us to be successful, and that takes a lot.”