Proving to be one of the best records in FC history, the boys’ basketball team went 7-1 in league, clinching the West Sequoia League (WSL) title and going 22-2 overall for the 2011-12 season.

Annually, the end of league play brings coaches together to distinguish players from the WSL with the All League honor. Though coaches nominate their own players to be considered for both First and Second team distinctions, the WSL as a whole votes on who receives the awards.

“The purpose of the All League selections is to recognize players for their hard work and achievements during league play,” FC Head Coach Josh Justin said. “They’re just a great way to recognize individuals for all of their hard work throughout the season. It’s always a positive thing to see players recognized by the other coaches in the league.”

This year, FC’s basketball players received three distinctions from the WSL, clenching a First-Team All League nomination, a Second-Team All League nomination and the League MVP title. In light of this, Justin recognizes that his team has put forth an extraordinary amount of effort.

“The players who received the awards were definitely deserving,” Justin said. “I am very thankful for how hard the players and coaches worked and how well they performed this season.”

Senior Ryan Neufeld was awarded First-Team All League for his season average of 14.5 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game. Though he says he is grateful for the honor, Neufeld acknowledges that none of it would have been possible without the hard work of his team.

“I felt being rewarded definitely showed the hard work my teammates and myself have put in throughout the year,” Neufeld said. “None of us could have accomplished any of this without the complete team effort we have put out the whole year. Our coaches have been patient and instructive throughout the year, which has lead to our tremendous success.”

Without an effective point guard, a team is unable to efficiently execute their plays. For FC, this crucial role was filled by senior Brady Lee, who has played varsity basketball since his sophomore year of high school. He received Second-Team All League and says that the receiving the award in his final season makes the designation all the more prestigious.

“It was a pleasant surprise being named Second-Team All League,” Lee said. “Being my last year of high school basketball, I hoped to finish strong. I want to focus on the task at hand and enjoy each moment. As a team captain I want to be a good leader for my team.”

The most acclaimed award the WSL gives to high school basketball players is League MVP. Leading the team with an average of 20.7 points per game, senior Cooper Belmont secured the honor.

“It is an awesome feeling to get this,” Belmont said. “It was definitely a personal goal I had in mind from the beginning of the season and now that I got it it is very special to me. I’m always going to remember it, along with my teammates and coaches who helped me achieve it.”

Although league play has ended, the Eagles’ season is not over. As they are seeded No. 1 for playoffs, they will face the No. 4 Tranquillity Tigers, Feb. 28. FC has played them twice already, winning both matches, and Belmont says he hopes this will not affect their level of play.

“There are some teams that we play that are hard to keep the intensity up for all four quarters,” Belmont said “But even though we have played Tranquility a couple times already, I don’t think the team will have a problem at all with coming out fired up.”

Even with the honors Justin’s players have already received, he says he is still looking for the team to improve and reclaim their Central Section DV title.

“For the remainder of the season, my hope is that we continue to improve as a team,” Justin said. “We are hoping to be successful throughout the playoffs and we plan to return to Selland again this year.”

The Eagles will next play Tranquillity at home, Feb. 28. Since it is a playoff game, tickets will cost $6 for adults and $4 for students. For more information on boys’ basketball, read the Feb. 24 article, Boys’ basketball sport shorts: FC loses battle against Parlier. For more information on FCS sports, visit the Fresno Christian Athletics web page.