Hope — and success — is back for Armstrong-Potomac boys' basketball

ARMSTRONG The landscape is vast.

Miles upon miles of farmland along Route 49 in Vermilion County are snow-covered on this particular Tuesday afternoon in mid-January.

More windmills, with their red flights flashing at the top towering well above the ground, are visible than houses on this stretch of road.

Winter in rural America epitomized.

The cold temperature still greets the Armstrong-Potomac boys basketball players when they get out of their vehicles before an evening practice.

Spotty cell phone reception, depending on ones provider, still greets visitors who make their way into Robert L.

Bezely Gymnasium.

Fresh-looking gold and purple paint, with two Trojan heads, signify one is about to enter the home of the Trojans.

The lights are a little brighter than theyve looked in the past.

New words adorn the playing surface, with the Trojans now playing their games and holding their practices on Bill Mulvaney Court after Armstrong-Potomac dedicated the playing floor in honor of the schools former long-time coach in multiple sports and administrator earlier this winter.

Ten rows of wooden bleachers that stretch the length of Bill Mulvaney Court on both sides are pulled out while a variety of music rap, country, rock is played through the speakers.

The 19 Trojans in white and purple practice jerseys are getting plenty of shots up, with practice still minutes away from officially starting.

A palpable sense of fun, mixed with nervous energy upon seeing a reporter enter the gym, is evident.

But one other emotion, one not associated with Armstrong-Potomac boys basketball in recent years and decades is lingering.

And thats hope.

Caleb Gossett graduated from Rantoul Township High School in 2016.

Always loved sports, playing golf, basketball and baseball for the Eagles.

Always loved his country, too, attending basic training in the United States Army the summer after his junior year in high school and then spending the summer after he completed high school doing specialized job training in the Army.

I was going to go part-time and then go to college, the 27-year-old Gossett said recently, sitting on the wooden bleachers near the scorers table before the Trojans started a recent practice, but I liked the Army so much that I wanted to go full-time, so I put in to get out of the reserves and go active duty.

The military life he lived for nearly the past decade took him to El Paso, Texas, and Fort Campbell, Ky.

It also took him overseas four times, with Gossett, who was part of the special operations aviation regiment, getting deployed twice to Iraq and twice to east Africa.

I spent most of my time in Africa in Djibouti, but missions had us venturing into Niger, Gossett said.

The deployment lengths varied, but my longest deployment was for 92 days in Iraq, so not terrible like the conventional guys who do nine-to-12-month rotations.

He got married to his high school sweetheart, Tessa, shortly after he joined the military and settled into his new life.

The couple has a five-year-old son, Jaxson.

My contract in the Army was going to expire this past June, and they said, Hey, were going to move you and your family again, Gossett said.

My wife and I have been married for eight years now and she was like, Look, if we have to move again, Im going to have to go back home and well see what we can do.

I said, All right, thats enough.

It was perfect timing.

So, they moved back to the area last spring, with Gossett finding a job as a food-truck driver with United Fuel Company.

While also wanting to get involved with the local sports scene if possible.

I knew I wanted to get back into officiating and something with area sports, he said.

I started looking around, and I couldnt even tell you how I came across the Armstrong job.

Just stumbled onto it searching on the Internet.

I sent my letter of interest in the same night.

The Trojans, who finished 15-17 last season, were in need of a new coach after Armstrong graduate Wade Rogers stepped aside after four seasons leading the program.

An interview with Armstrong Superintendent Nick Hipsher and Armstrong athletic director Candy Franzen soon followed last April for Gossett.

Then, a job offer to become the next boys basketball coach of the Trojans.

When I sat down with them, Gossett said, you could tell it would be a good fit.

The results on the court, so far, have followed the same trend.

A-P, off to one of its best seasons in almost two decades, improved to 14-5 on the season following Thursday nights home win against Cissna Park.

The smallest public high school school in Vermilion County is dreaming big ahead before the 109th Vermilion County Tournament tips off Saturday at Danville Area Community College.

I think weve got a real good chance, A-P senior forward James Huisinga said.

This year, coming into county having won more games than were used to, we have a lot more confidence than normal.

County.

Just mention the one word to Vermilion County sports fans and they understand what is being referenced.

The move of the basketball tournament in 2023 the girls portion of the seven-team event tips off Friday night to Danville Area Community Colleges Mary Miller Gym from Palmer Arena in downtown Danville seemed to re-energize the event.

Big crowds show up, especially on championship night.

This is their Super Bowl, Gossett said.

A lot of people in Vermilion County value the county tournament more than the regional and sectional tournament.

Im expecting packed crowds at DACC, high-level competition and tight games.

Im looking forward to it.

I know the kids will find another gear.

Id love to be able to go out there and compete with Bismarck for a county title.

Bismarck.

As in Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin, the winners of the last five county tournaments and the overwhelming favorites to win a six straight.

The Blue Devils are undefeated at 18-0 entering Friday nights home game against Iroquois West and only have to win two games at the county tournament to play for another shot at a county title.

But on Tuesday night, BHRA found itself in a somewhat unusual position.

Trailing 33-31 on the road at halftime.

To A-P.

The Blue Devils ultimately recovered and outplayed the Trojans in the second half, but had to earn their way to a 73-55 win.

Our number one priority is always to defend home court, and we hadnt lost at home until Tuesday night, Gossett said.

We knew we were in for a high-level game, and the boys believe they can compete with the best competition at any given time.

Being up at half was just another testament to show how far the boys have came in a short time and the belief they have in themselves and each other.

I couldnt say I really soaked in too much being up at halftime as I knew that Bismarck would find another gear.

Theyre a great team.

Props to them for an outstanding game.

The 15 wins the Trojans had last year under Rogers marked the most for the program since the 2005-06 season.

Still, A-P hasnt had a winning season since the Trojans went 23-8 that winter under Mulvaneys direction.

The 2006 regional championship also marks the last one for the program.

And A-P last won a county tournament title in 2005.

The Trojans begin their county tournament stay at 5:15 p.m.

on Saturday against Salt Fork (11-5), the third meeting between the two teams already this season.

After A-P placed third at the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Thanksgiving Tournament and after A-P secured nonconference home wins against Herscher and Sullivan, the Trojans opened Vermilion Valley Conference play on Dec.

13 at Salt Fork.

And got humbled following a 59-42 loss to the Storm in Catlin.

A lesson the Trojans took with them when the two teams met again almost two weeks later on Dec.

26, with A-P producing a 49-37 win in the Heritage/BHRA Holiday Tournament.

Salt Fork popped us in the mouth that first game and we took that time in between the first and second game to really got down to the nitty-gritty, A-P senior guard Bowen Hesterberg said.

It was nice to see that improvement.

So how exactly have the Trojans, a program with 18 straight losing seasons now under the direction of coach experiencing his first varsity boys basketball gig who is admitting hes still learning on the job, achieved so much success this winter? An up-tempo offensive philosophy and balanced scoring.

Before Thursday nights game with Cissna Park, A-P was averaging 61.7 points.

A marked difference from last season when A-P averaged 51.0 points.

Gossett credits his approach to what former Rantoul coach Brett Frerichs employed by wanting to get out on fast breaks as often as possible, with pressure defense turning into easy offensive opportunities.

From what we did last year, everybody is surprised about how well our team offense really works and how well we move the ball, A-P junior guard/forward Luke Townsend said.

Weve gotten a lot better, and its been a lot of fun.

Huisinga, at 6 feet, 4 inches, is the tallest player on A-Ps roster alongside fellow 6-4 post players Blake Learned and JT Frerichs.

Huisinga is averaging a double-double of 17.1 points and 12.6 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field.

Since Im the big guy, they can give it to me in the post and I can try to score, Huisinga said.

I just think we all know each other well on the court.

We pass it a lot and get it to the guys who are open.

A-P has four of its five starters averaging double figures, with the 6-3 Townsend (16.6 points, 9.6 rebounds), the 6-1 Hesterberg (12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists) and the 6-foot Ryan Edwards (13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds) all capable of making timely baskets.

Cole Bailey, a 5-9 guard, rounds out the starting five and averages 6.4 points to go along with 7.3 assists.

Bailey, Hesterberg, Huisinga, Frerichs and Learned are the teams five seniors, with Townsend and Edwards juniors who are flourishing this season and could become the core of next seasons team.

But right now, all A-P is worried about is this winter.

Its why Gossett addresses an area he wants cleaned up, making layups and avoiding unnecessary turnovers, at the early part of a recent practice.

The Trojans, with assistant coaches Michael Schluter and Thad Townsend providing encouragement, focus on this aspect.

Gossett wants his players, standing near the three-point line at either end of the court, to make 100 left-handed layups off a full-court pass in five minutes and then ups it to 115 right-handed layups in five minutes under similar circumstances.

A-P achieves both objectives in time.

From day one, weve been wanting to push the ball.

Get out and go, Gossett said.

If we can take the best available shot in five to seven seconds, thats what we do.

Thats been our upper hand on a lot of these teams because we push the ball.

Still, playing well in practice and then translating the same success into games is a different entity.

Its easy to make layups with hardly anyone in the gym besides teammates and coaches compared to fans, relatives and opposing student sections creating a high-pressure, intense environment.

Which is what A-P is expecting at the Vermilion County Tournament and later in February when the Class 1A postseason begins.

The Trojans will make the quick trip to either Danville for regional games at Shebby Gymnasium on the Schlarman campus or head west to Mt.

Pulaski.

With a goal of making more scenic drives across rural parts of central Illinois and advancing to the Ridgeview Sectional in Colfax later in February.

If that happens and its a big if for a school with an enrollment of 117 students and a current student body that hasnt grown up witnessing A-P achieve sustained success its a moment Gossett, Huisinga, Hesterberg, Townsend and the rest of the Trojans wont take for granted.

Theres not much of a better feeling than winning a game, Hesterberg said.

I hate losing more than I like winning.

I love this sport, and Ive been here since weve been trying to build it up.

Around the county, I dont think a lot of teams are surprised necessarily, but theyre ready now when they play us because its been such a long time since Armstrong has had a strong team.

Theres obviously a little buzz around us.

Its just something new.

Weve never really dealt with it before at the high school level, so its nice.

We have such big goals.

Were all focused on that big picture, and thats going to keep driving us.

The talk in the hallways at A-P this winter is different than in years past, according to Townsend.

It used to be, Whats the game going to be like? Is it worth showing up? Townsend said.

Now, its, How many points are you going to beat them by? Its nice.

Were a small school, but we still bring a lot of school spirit.

Everybody is in a sport pretty much here, and we all keep track of what the other teams are doing.

Right now, the basketball is good again with the Trojans.

The focus is on what they can accomplish, not on what they cant.

A little hope, it seems, can go a long way.

I see it as a Ted Lasso kind of thing, Gossett said with a smile in reference to the Apple TV+ show about the fictitious American soccer coach who has unexpected success in England.

Youve got to hang the believe sign on the door.

Since the very beginning of the summer, weve talked about the front of your jersey says Armstrong-Potomac Trojans.

Weve got to put ourselves back on the map because everyone saw us as a win on their schedule.

Thats changing now..

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