At 4-19, the AGWSR boys basketball team recorded the most wins in a season by the program since 2021-2022.
Head Coach Ryley Schipper says it was as good of a strength of schedule as ever, with four league teams qualifying for the state tournament. The Cougars faced Grundy Center and Gladbrook-Reinbeck twice, Jesup and Union once, and bowed out of the playoffs against St. Edmond.
“We were playing some of the best in state,” Schipper says. “Seven of our 23 games are against state tournament teams. To be at the top, you’ve got to be able to beat the best. And those teams are consistent. They’re really, really good. We lost to Jesup by four at home. A game that we played really well against that state tournament team. Grundy Center at home, we held them scoreless for five and a half, six minutes in the second quarter. Unfortunately, we didn’t score that time either, but there were times where against really good competition and really good teams, we were playing up to that level.”
Seniors Ryne Pickering and Carter Roder will depart the program after multiple years as key contributors, including helping the program bounce back from a winless season in 2022-2023.
“They’ve given it all to be a part of the program for four years, and sometimes that’s hard. I think today you’re starting to see people, when they don’t play early, kind of give up on it and, these guys didn’t and really showed that in order to get on the floor sometimes you’ve got to really work hard. It’s not always about scoring the points, it’s about doing the little things. Carter was a defensive staffer. Ryne really took on the role of wanting to guard the best players this year, and I think Ryne made some big shots. He made the game winner against Oelwein, which was awesome. I wish those guys the best of luck. They always have a part of Cougar basketball whenever they wanna be around, and I wish them the best of luck in the future, and have really enjoyed having those guys around.”
Pickering was second on the team in assists and Roder tied for the team lead in steals.
