Both AC/GC Chargers basketball teams had strong senior leadership this past season, but there is also talent waiting in the wings.

Girls Basketball Head Coach Brad Baudler and Boys Basketball Head Coach Lance Kading both had a handful of freshmen who made their way onto the varsity roster, with a few playing some key minutes for the teams when they were needed. The freshmen for the girls team also performed well in their junior varsity games, showing an astounding knack for executing Baudler’s signature fast and heavy defensive approach, and bringing that over to their varsity time as well. A key example of this comes from the game against the Clarinda Cardinals, where Kailee Kautzky collected four steals, four points, and two assists in the span of one minute, all before the Cardinals could advance to their side of the court.

The freshmen for the boys team brought some needed size in games where the Chargers starters had a height disadvantage, and also brought some individuals who could score and draw defenders off the seniors at times as well. Will Skram, younger brother of senior Tommy Skram, was a perfect example of this, taking over a starting position in games where Tommy or Joe Crawford were unable to play, and putting up a double digit performance. Kading and Baudler are looking forward to the bright futures that should come with these talented youths as they develop more over the next year or two.