It was about this time 15 years ago

It was about this time 15 years ago that the Holy Angels 8th grade Basketball team that was under the leadership of Ken Schlater, Mike Behr and Kevin Behr, won their first game in Junior High Basketball by trouncing Wilder in their building. Tony Henning had a big ball game for us, he was our best player, along with Ryan Ratermann, Matt Zimmerman, Jamie Westerheide, Dave Hodapp. The 1995-96 Holy Angels Boys team featured: Tony Henning, Jamie Westerheide, Justin Frantz, Ryan Ratermann, Dave Hodapp, Joe Schmeising, Todd Barhorst, Matt Bowman, Jake Sinclair, Anthony Amiewalen, Luke Schlater, Kyle Henson, Brad Graver, Beau Sweigart.  We jumped out to a quick lead and did not look back. After the game, we went to the Fairington and Jim Henning had us there for a first victory dinner.

It was the following Tuesday, that we played Milton Union at Holy Angels. The night before at practice, the coaches would have us shoot 10 free throws in groups of three. I shot 10 free throws and missed nine of them. We were getting beat pretty good and it was time for the little used guys to come in. Justin passed me the ball on the left wing and I drived baseline and their was a foul called. The guys on the bench looked at me and pointed to the foul line. I said to myself, "I'm air-balling both of these", I was thinking back to practice that night before and then said, "let's try to at least hit the back board. I banked the first foul shot in and the people behind the basket are jumping like crazy, I banked the second in as well. Moments later, I looked over at my Mom and smiled. After the game, my friends from the girls basketball team, congratulated me on the two free throws. Shortly after that, we left to go to a party at Justin Frantz's Mom and Dad's, they had us and the Piqua Catholic eighth grade boys teams over to their house for a party. The noise at the Holy Angels gym was pretty loud that night, but not as loud as Lehman's gym was on February 11, 2000.