2023 -2024 Broadway Basketball Recap

Both the BHS Boys and Girls earned trips to the Region 3C Tournament
​By: Ben Elliott

First off, this article is dedicated to Buddy Walton. Your love for Broadway basketball has inspired many in this town, we will continue to treat the game with the love and care that you approached it with. Buddy, the father of BHS Boys Head Coach Dwight Walton, passed away at the age of 83 on February 15, 2024.
 
This year was another example of consistency under the Broadway Basketball umbrella. Over the past couple of seasons, each team has found themselves in a position to play in the Region 3C playoffs. It’s what you work all year around for and to be there year after year is truly a gift. A gift that none of us take for granted.
 
All of the greatest memories I have of being a part of teams here at BHS come in the playoffs or the build up late season towards that goal. It’s truly a different feeling once you’re in. Every game you play from that point on is a one game season. And just like the cliche says, records truly do go out the window. 
 
It’s why you fall in love with sports to begin with. As my friends from Staten Island would say, "It's the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat”. 
 
I may be (not so hidden), a little biased towards the hardwood. I love every sport that I’ve been able to have been a part of here, yet I always think back to 2009. I was in grade school, (maybe Kindergarten), and I had just fallen in love with sports for the first time. My love for sports started with Kobe Bryant. At that time, he was just coming off winning the NBA title over my beloved Celtics. After that series, I’m sure to his dismay, my father took me all over the valley to buy a gold number 24 Los Angeles Lakers jersey. We must’ve gone to six different malls but, after a long search, we were able to find one. I wore it everywhere until the name and numbers peeled off.
 
All of those years later, my love for the game still remains and strengthens as the days go on. I want to pass on the love for the game to the next generation. And as I watched both teams play this season, it’s safe to say that the game I love so dearly is truthfully in good hands. I see the younger generation approach the game with the same passion and love that we did and it makes me feel good to know that there still is a love for the game. 
 
Without further ado, let's get into a quick recap of how each team finished their 2023-24 season!
 
Starting with my beloved Lady Gobblers. 
 
We finished the 23-24 season with a 16-9 record, surpassing our win total from the previous season. 
 
It was, like any other season, one filled with our fair shares of highs and lows. We dropped a couple early on that we probably shouldn’t have. And we went on a tear late that was the thrill of a lifetime. My favorite games from this season were our Gold Out game against East Rockingham, and our Pink Out game against Spotswood. Definitely the biggest crowds we played in front of the entire season. Full of amped passion and hype that culminated in two huge victories in each bout for the program. Those moments stand out the most to me because it’s a perfect snapshot of why you play the game in the first place. Packed house, against two really good teams that are well coached, and to do it at home makes those moments much sweeter. 
 
Our season ended on February 16 in the Region 3C Quarterfinals at Western Albemarle, to a very good Warriors team. The loss wasn’t without its great moments though, junior Wren Wheeler hit the 1,000-point milestone after just three years of varsity basketball. I am beyond proud of Wren, her commitment to the program truthfully stands out, grateful you’ve got one more year left with us!
 
I wanted to end the girls portion of our recap with saying thank you to our four seniors. Natalee Strawderman, Keely Spencer, Maya Bacon and Lexie Dingus. Your contributions to our program will be felt for years to come, we wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
 
Now for the boys. 
 
The BHS Boys finished the season with a record of 16-8 which improved their 11-win total from the season before. 
 
The Gobblers team was so much fun to watch this year. Just the textbook example of selfless basketball, a systematic play built on getting the job done no matter who gets their name in the paper. It was a masterclass on how to play the game in order to maximize opportunities to win. The standout game(s) for me for the boys this season would have to also have been the Gold Out game against East Rockingham and Senior Night against Harrisonburg. The former was like I described above, an electric atmosphere against a good East Rock team that went down to the fourth quarter. It’s a prime example of why I love sharing Varsity Doubleheader games with the boys. Sharing your successes after the final whistle blows, is a feeling unlike any other. That gold out night was a perfect example. Not to mention the Unified game, which was the top headline of that incredible night. Senior night against the Blue Streaks was another contest that stands out to me for the boys. Harrisonburg brought a great team to the floor this season. They gave us fits all year and to beat them at home on senior night was another great moment for the program. 
 
Shout out to the senior boys, Conner Michael and Jet Gonzalez, your contributions to the program didn’t go unnoticed, we wish you gentleman the best of luck in whatever is next for you!
 
This year was another great season to have been a part of. I send my sincere “thank you” to both coaching staff and every player, love you all dearly and I can’t wait to compete alongside you all next year!
 
Wren Wheeler Hits 1,000
By: Micah Morris

On Friday, February 16 as the Broadway Girls faced Western Albemarle in the Region 3C Quarterfinals, history was written as BHS Junior Wren Wheeler became the fifth player in BHS Girls Basketball history to score 1,000 career points.  Wren, who is in her third year of playing at the varsity level, was one of three team captains, the only junior to earn captain honors, led the Gobblers in scoring with 15 points per game this season.  The accomplishment of 1,000 points is significant in the life of any high school basketball player.  However, to accomplish the feat in just three years is even more rare.  The last BHS player to score 1,000 points in their junior season; Zach Yoder, who just happens to be Wren Wheeler’s head coach and knows how significant the milestone of 1,000 points truly is.

Wren exemplifies leadership, she is a multi-sport athlete at BHS and works tirelessly to get better, spending countless hours in the gym, even long after the team practice is over.  Ask any of her coaches, Volleyball or Basketball, and they will tell you that Wren Wheeler is exactly what you’re looking for as a High School athlete, a hard worker, good leader and focused.  We’ve been lucky enough to watch Wren for three years, we are lucky to have a fourth!  Enjoy it Gobblers Fans!  

BHS Junior Wren Wheeler celebrates scoring her 1,000 point with BHS Girls Coaches Janna Grandle, Zach Yoder and Will Tinnell                                                                              Photo by Lexie Dingus