After a disappointing 2018-2019 season, the MCHS boys varsity basketball team aim to bounce back with hopes of once again becoming a competitive force in the FVC. 

The team finished with a record of 2-28, placing second to last in conference last season. Instead of allowing last season to cast a negative shadow over them for this season, the Warriors have acknowledged their mistakes, and hopes to put it behind them.

Coming into the season, the Warriors are considerably undersized and young. The starting five will consist of Carter Foat (senior, 5’10), Brett Loeding (senior, 6’0), Adam Benton (junior, 6’3), Kyle Kaempf (sophomore, 5’11), and Matthew Galimore (junior, 6’1). 

Foat comes into his second varsity basketball season understanding what makes a ‘winner’. “I feel like the big thing that I learned is that having a team that cares about hard work is a big reason why certain teams win,” he said. “This year as one of the returning seniors, I really want to keep the same energy everyday and show the younger guys what it takes to win.”

While the warriors will attempt to be competitive in the talented FVC, teams like Cary-Grave, Huntley, and Crystal Lake South appear to be the favorites to win the conference. Burlington Central is the unknown, as it is their first year in the FVC. The “bottom tier” teams would appear to be Prairie Ridge, Jacobs, Crystal Lake Central, and Hampshire. 

In order for McHenry to be respected as a true, competitive force—and for their shot at a conference championship—they have been focusing their attention on keeping the same energy throughout the entire game. “Since we are smaller we are going to have to be great in transition, and outrun teams in order to make them tired so they can’t do much on offense or defense,” said Foat.

The Warriors are currently 0-7, and began conference play on December 4 at an away game when they took on Hampshire. Their first home game was December 7.