Surprise and Success: The 2024 CBA Basketball Team
The CBA Basketball season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Paul VI with a final score of 61-52. It was a hard-fought effort where they just fell short of a possible state final appearance.
The game felt like a total disappointment, but this basketball season exceeded all expectations. When I asked the captain of the team Peter Noble he had this to say “As a team we certainly exceeded expectations, finishing with an excellent record and going pretty far in states. We had a down year last year, for CBA standards, so I think we did pretty well.”
This was a young roster that only had two seniors, so you would assume this season was more of a building year where we could see the upcoming juniors and sophomores improve for the 2024-2025 season. But the team went from 13-9 in the 2022-2023 season to 18-7. The team was the 1st seed in the states, which was the first time in years. I think describing this year as an improvement is an understatement.
We saw players emerge like Justin Fuerbacher, the leading scorer for the Colts, who more than doubled his point total from last season. Conor Andree and Charlie Marcoullier who were both freshmen last year became starting sophomores and key players.
CBA was able to see a new transfer player in Kevin Pikiell who would have an immediate impact. Being the second-highest scorer on the team. Help us win our first Founder’s Cup in over 5 years, when he was the scoring leader for the game with 19 points in a 56-47 victory.
The Founder’s Cup is CBA’s annual rivalry game against RBC, which both teams are always excited about. A game I and many others will remember when looking back on their senior year.
That game was one of the most energetic and exciting crowds I have ever seen at a CBA event. There isn’t a better feeling than winning a rivalry game on your home court and holding that trophy up high.
The worst part of the season-ending though, is losing the seniors. I wanted to ask questions to the two seniors on the roster, Peter Noble and Dylan Kielb.
I asked them both what they would take from their senior year. Noble said he “took on a new perspective from my senior season, particularly living in the moment. People said four years would go by fast, and they were right, so my senior year I just tried to cherish every moment, whether it was in the locker room.”
Kielb said “I took some valuable lessons from the senior season. The most important one was to do everything I could to contribute to the team and do my part. Also, I took away that you don’t have to be on varsity for so many years to be a valuable part of the team, as I was just on it for my senior year.”
I also asked what they would consider to be the best or most exciting moment this year. Noble said “Definitely winning the Founders Cup. I was 0-2 against them previously, so that win meant a lot to me. Also, sharing the court with those guys, many of whom I grew up with, for the last time was a good experience.”
Kielb thought “The most exciting game I played this year would have to be the sectional semifinals against Paul VI. The atmosphere in the gym was crazy and that would have to be the most exciting game.”
These great moments and players will always be remembered by the 2024 CBA students and our Colt Crazies.
When I asked Noble to sum up the season in a word he said “sentimental”, which was a a perfect way to describe a senior season. Who wouldn’t be emotional when it’s your last time playing for your high school and wearing that CBA logo?
When the team moves on to next season we can see who will be our next captain and who will be a fan-favorite player who gives a hundred percent every time he is on the court. And as always will be coached by Coach Billiet and his coaching staff.
