Go to link below for all 2020-21 FDL HS winter sports weekly schedule

http://www.foxvalleyassociation.org/public/genie/240/school/4/

Go to link below for 2020-21 FVA Boys Basketball schedule – scores – standings  

https://www.fvasports.net/page/show/1251334-boys-basketball

.

Game Schedule & Results below

                     Score              Record
Frosh         53  – 9                 1 – 0
JV              34 – 45                 0 – 1 
Varsity       81 – 53                1 – 0 @ Appleton West
.
Frosh        29  – 44                1 – 1
JV            65 –  79                0 – 2
Varsity     65 – 105               1 – 1 (H) Kimberly
.
Frosh         41 – 42               1 – 2
JV             35 –  52               0 – 3
Varsity      60 –  70               1 – 2 @ Hortonville
.
Frosh          42 – 22               2 – 2
JV              41 – 65               0 – 4
Varsity      67 –  65               2 – 2 @ Appleton East
.
Frosh       33 – 45              2 – 3
JV            46 – 61              0 – 5
Varsity     57 –  93             2 – 3 @ Brookfield East
.
Frosh        50 – 42             3 – 3
JV             59 – 53             1 – 5      
Varsity      74 – 69             3 – 3 (H) Oshkosh North
.
Frosh        24 53             3 – 4
JV             44 – 53             1 – 6
Varsity       71 – 74            3 – 4 @ Appleton North
.
Frosh        50 – 51             3 – 5
JV        53 – 44  (OT)        2 – 6  
Varsity      77 – 73             4 – 4 (H) Kaukauna
.
Frosh        44 38            4 – 5   
JV            53 – 46             3 – 6  
Varsity      61- 58             5 – 4 (H) West Bend East  
.
Frosh       48 – 35             5 – 5
JV            41 – 43             3 – 7
Varsity      65 – 67            5 – 5 @ Ashwaubenon
.
Frosh        37 – 59             5 – 6
JV            40 – 57              3 – 8      
Varsity      37 – 59             5 – 6 (H) Neenah
.
Frosh        33 – 28             6 – 6 (H) Little Chute
JV            59 – 47              4 – 8 (H) Oostburg
Varsity      58 – 42             6 – 6 (H) Appleton West
.
Frosh        43 – 46             6 – 7
JV             34 – 45             4 – 9
Varsity      69 – 57             7 – 6 @ Oshkosh West
.
Frosh        45 – 26             7 – 7
JV            47  – 46            5 – 9
Varsity.    82 –  69            8 – 6 (H)  Oak Creek
.
Frosh        53 – 25            8 – 7
JV            37 – 34            6 – 9
Varsity.    75 – 66            9 – 6 (H) Appleton East
.
Frosh     38 – 43  (OT)     8 – 8
JV            49 – 50            6 – 10
Varsity.    53 – 62            9 – 7 @ Neenah
.
Frosh       55 – 52             9 – 8
JV            59 – 54            7 – 10
Varsity      81 – 74           10 – 7 @ Oshkosh North
.
Frosh & JV games cancelled
Varsity      67 – 59          11 – 7 (H) Hortonville
.
Frosh       55 – 44             10 – 8
JV            58 – 50             8 – 10
Varsity      52 – 44            12 – 7 (H) Appleton North
.
Frosh        25 – 55           10 – 9
JV            53 – 59            8 – 11
Varsity      58 – 75           12 – 8 @ Kimberly
.
Frosh        44 – 76          10 – 10
JV            45 – 59            8 – 12
Varsity      79 – 77           13 – 8 (H) Waunakee
.
Frosh        50 – 59          10 – 11
JV            41 – 68            8 – 13                                        
Varsity      87 – 83  (OT)   14 – 8 @ Kaukauna

.

Season Final FVA  Record  12 – 6  Overall 14 – 8

Neenah 17 – 1, Kimberly 16 – 1, Fond du Lac 12 – 6, Kaukauna 10 – 8, Appleton North 9 – 9, Appleton East 7 – 10, Hortonville 7 – 10, Oshkosh North 5 – 13, Oshkosh West 5 – 13, Appleton West 0 – 17

.

                Varsity Roster

 2    Henry Wright  G/F    6’2″   12
 3    Cole Linder    F    6’2″   12
 4    Owen Gray   G   5’11”   11
10    Jamariea Dalton    G    6’2″   10
11    Steve Schreiter     F    6’2″   10
15    Drew Dickman   G    6’0″   11
20     Colton Blank   G    6’1″   10
22    Moe Craine Jr.   G    6’0″   12
23    Alex Rusch   F    6’3″   12
32
    Ethan Wagner-Lang     F    6’4″   10
33    Mack Sebert   F    6’5″   12
34    Will Braatz   F    6’5″   10
.
Head Coach:  Nick Ford
Assistant Coach:  Doug Follis

.

                    JV Roster
No.              Name  Year   Height
  3   Rocky Barfknecht    9     5’8″
  4   Simon Schipper    10     6’0″
 10    Caleb Nehls    10    5’10”
 11   Robbie Magdaleno    10    5’10”
 12   Jamiere Hubbard-Kennedy      10     5’9″
 20   Kalvin Mullins     9    5’10”
 22   Kian O’Loughlin    10     6’2″
 23   Ryker Johnson      9     6’3″
 33   Mason Schnell    10     6’1″
 34   D’Mari Jackson    10     5’6″
 42   Carter Wendt    10     6’1″

.

Head Coach: Willie Franke

Assistant Coach: Moe Craine Sr.

.

Freshman Roster

No.         Name   Year    Height 
  1   Tanner Dalske      9     5’11”
  2   Kamdyn Ernst      9      5’4″
  3   Tyler Dickmann      9      5’4″
 10    Keegan Holzman      9     5’11”
  11    Jacob Haller      9      5’9″
  12    Corbin Hanrahan       9      5’9″
  13    Carson Slimmer      9      6’0″
  14    Tyler Rogers      9      5’4″
  15    Matt Rusch      9     5’11”
  20    Halden Krueger      9      6’2″
  22    Matt Fredrickson      9      6’2″
  23    Aiden Lackas      9      6’3″

.

Season Final FVA Record  12 – 6  Overall 15 – 8

Neenah 17 – 1, Kimberly 16 – 1Fond du Lac 12 – 6, Kaukauna 10 – 8, Appleton North 9 – 9, Appleton East 7 – 10,

Hortonville 7 – 10, Oshkosh North 5 – 13, Oshkosh West 5 – 13, Appleton West 0 – 17

.

Go to link below for complete 2020-21 FVA Boys Basketball All Conference selections

https://cdn3.sportngin.com/attachments/document/16c1-2383933/boysbb2021.pdf#_ga=2.4145655.658604962.1616696801-532359812.1566174818

2nd Team 

Henry Wright    12        Guard

Jamariea Dalton    10    W

Honorable Mention  

Alex Rusch     12      W 

FVA Defensive Team

Alex Rusch     12      W

Co-Coach of the Year

Head Coach  Nick Ford

Go to link below for Goodrich / Fond du Lac HS All-Time FRVC / FVA All Conference Selections

https://www.cardinalathleticalumni.com/boys-basketball-all-time-frvc-fva-all-conference-teams/

.

.

WIAA Regionals

Fond du Lac  75  Manitowoc  54

Go to link below for complete game (team & Individual) stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/30524496?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Individual Stats are not available !

Fond du Lac  69    Oshkosh North  87

Go to link below for complete game (team & Individual) stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/30544677?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Individual Stats are not available !

.

Fond du Lac  87         Kaukauna  83    OT

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29968563?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Fond du Lac  44  32  11  –  87

Kaukauna      32  44   7  –  83

Jay Dalton 32, Henry Wright 20, Drew Dickman 13, Alex Rusch 11, Cole Linder 6, Stephen Schreiter 3, Ethan Wagner-Lang 2 

3-pt:  (13)    Henry Wright 4, Drew Dickman 3, Cole Linder 2, Jay Dalton 2, Stephen Schreiter 1, Alex Rusch 1

FT:  14-18

.

.

 Fond du Lac   79     Waunakee   77

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/30196532?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Waunakee       40   37  –  77

Fond du Lac    45   34  –  79

Alex Rusch’s tip-in at the buzzer lifted the Cardinals to the victory over Waunakee.

Alex Rusch 24, Jay Dalton 15, Henry Wright 9, Stephen Schreiter 9, Colton Blank 9, Cole Linder 8, Drew Dickman 5 

3-pt:  (17)   Alex Rusch 5, Colton Blank 3, Stephen Schreiter 3, Jay Dalton 2, Cole Linder 2, Drew Dickman 1, Henry Wright 1 

FT: 8-12

.

.

Fond du Lac 58        Kimberly   75

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970275?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

        1        2       T
Fond du Lac         17       41       58
Kimberly        43       32       75

Jay Dalton 18, Ethan Wagner-Lang 10, Henry Wright 9, Stephen Schreiter 8, Colton Blank 6, Alex Rusch 4, Drew Dickman 3 

3-pt:   (7)   Henry Wright 2, Jay Dalton 2, Stephen Schreiter 2, Drew Dickman 1 

FT:   15 – 18

.

.

Fond du Lac   52     Appleton North   44

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29969145?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Jay Dalton 16, Henry Wright 10, Stephen Schreiter 9, Alex Rusch 8, Cole Linder 6,  Drew Dickman 3 

3-pt:   (12)   Stephen Schreiter 3, Henry Wright 2, Jay Dalton 2, Cole Linder 2, Alex Rusch 2, Drew Dickman 1

FT:   2 – 2

.

.

Fond du Lac   67     Hortonville   59

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970284

Henry Wright 21, Jay Dalton 17, Alex Rusch 10, Cole Linder 9, Stephen Schreiter 5, Ethan Wagner-Lang 5

3-pt:  (12)   Henry Wright 5, Cole Linder 3, Alex Rusch 2, Stephen Schreiter 1, Ethan Wagner-Lang 1

FT:   7 – 9

.

.

Fond du Lac   81     Oshkosh North   74

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970279?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Jay Dalton 19, Drew Dickman 18, Henry Wright 12, Alex Rusch 10, Cole Linder 9, Stephen Schreiter 8, Colton Blank 5

3-pt:  (12)  Drew Dickman 4, Cole Linder 3, Stephen Schreiter 2, Henry Wright 1, Jay Dalton 1, Colton Blank 1

FT: 11- 12

.

.

Fond du Lac  53     Neenah      62

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970277?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

        1         2        T
Fond du Lac        24        29       53
Neenah        28        34       62

Jay Dalton 20, Henry Wright 11, Cole Linder 11, Drew Dickman 4, Alex Rusch 7

3-pt:  (9)   Cole Linder 3, Henry Wright 3, Jay Dalton 2, Alex Rusch 1

FT: 8 – 8

.

.

Fond du Lac  75     Appleton East   66

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29969075?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Jay Dalton 16, Drew Dickman 11, Alex Rusch 14, Henry Wright 11, Stephen Schreiter 9, Cole Linder 6, Colton Blank 6, Ethan Wagner-Lang 2  

3-pt:  (11)   Stephen Schreiter 3, Cole Linder 2, Jay Dalton 2, Colton Blank 2, Drew Dickman 1, Henry Wright 1

FT: 8 – 12

.

.

Fond du Lac  82     Oak Creek   69

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970273?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Fond du Lac

    33

    49

    82

Oak Creek

    38

    31

     69

Jay Dalton 18, Drew Dickman 15, Alex Rusch 15, Henry Wright 13, Stephen Schreiter 11, Cole Linder 9 

3-pt:   (14)    Stephen Schreiter 3, Cole Linder 3, Drew Dickman 3, Henry Wright 3, Alex Rusch 2

FT: 24 – 25

.

.

Fond du Lac    69      Oshkosh West      57

Go to link below for complete game team & individual stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970273?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

        1

        2

        T

Fond du Lac

      34

       35

      69

Oshkosh West

      22

       35

      57

Jay Dalton 20, Stephen Schreiter 15, Cole Linder 12, Drew Dickman 9, Henry Wright 7, Alex Rusch 6

3-pt:   (12)   Stephen Schreiter 5, Alex Rusch 2, Cole Linder 2, Drew Dickman 2, Henry Wright 1, Jay Dalton 1

FT: 18 – 20

.

.

Fond du Lac   52       Appleton West    49 

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29969173?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Appleton West

        28

       14

        42

Fond du Lac

        24

      34

       58

Henry Wright 18, Alex Rusch 12, Stephen Schreiter 7, Drew Dickman 6, Colton Blank 5, Jay Dalton 5, Cole Linder 3, Mack Sebert 2

3-pt:  (13)   Alex Rusch 3, Henry Wright 3, Drew Dickman 2, Stephen Schreiter 2, Cole Linder 1, Colton Blank 1, Jay Dalton 1

FT: 10 – 13  

.

.

 Fond du Lac   37     Neenah    59

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970272?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Neenah

      29

    38

     67

Fond du Lac

      28

    22

    50

Henry Wright 15, Alex Rusch 15, Stephen Schreiter 7, Drew Dickman 6, Colton Blank 5,

Ethan Wagner-Lang 2

3-pt:   (9)    Alex Rusch 3, Henry Wright 2, Drew Dickman 2 Stephen Schreiter 1, Colton Blank 1

FT: 5 – 9 

.

.

Fond du Lac   65      Ashwaubenon     67 

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29865739?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Fond du Lac      34  31  –  65

Ashwaubenon  30  37  –  67

Stephen Schreiter 15, Alex Rusch 15, Drew Dickman 14, Jay Dalton 11, Henry Wright 8, Moe Craine 2

3-pt:    (10)    Stephen Schreiter 5, Drew Dickman 4, Henry Wright

FT: 9-12     Fouls: 13

.

.

Fond du Lac   61     West Bend East   58   

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/30134795?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

West Bend East

       32

     26

     58

Fond du Lac

       33

     28

     61

Drew Dickman 21, Henry Wright 13, Stephen Schreiter 13, Alex Rusch 8, Colton Blank 6

3 pt :  (8)    Stephen Schreiter 3, Drew Dickman 3, Henry Wright 1, Colton Blank 1

FT :  17 – 25

.      

.

Fond du Lac   77      Kaukauna    73

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29968436?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Kaukauna      31   42  –  73

Fond du Lac  27  50   – 77

Henry Wright 22, Jay Dalton 21, Drew Dickman 15, Alex Rusch 12, Colton Blank 3, Moe Craine 2, Ethan Wagner-Lang 2

3-pt:  (10)    Henry Wright 5, Drew Dickman 3, Jay Dalton, Colton Blank

FT: 17-23     Fouls: 12

.

.

Fond du Lac    71     Appleton North     74

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29969114?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Fond du Lac            33  38  –  71

Appleton North     34  40  –  74

 Jay Dalton 22, Henry Wright 21, Alex Rusch 11, Drew Dickman 9, Stephen Schreiter 8

3-pt:  (12)     Henry Wright 4, Drew Dickman 3, Jay Dalton 2, Stephen Schreiter 2, Alex Rusch 1

FT: 13-18       Fouls: 13

.

.

Fond du Lac    74     Oshkosh North     69

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970267?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

         1

          2

         T

Oshkosh North

       29

         40

       69

Fond du Lac

       30

         44

       74

Jay Dalton 17, Henry Wright 24, Alex Rusch 7, Stephen Schreiter 5, Cole Linder 13, Colton Blank 8

3-pt:  (11)   Cole Linder 3, Henry Wright 4, Colton Blank 2, Alex Rusch 1, Stephen Schreiter 1

FT: 21-24

.

.

Fond du Lac   57     Brookfield East   93

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29952035?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

       1

       2

Fond du Lac

     19

      38

    57

Brookfield East

     51

      42

    93

Jay Dalton 28, Henry Wright 3, Alex Rusch 7, Stephen Schreiter 8, Cole Linder 5, Colton Blank 2,nEthan Wagner-Lang 4

3-pt:      (5)   Jay Dalton 2, Stephen Schreiter 2, Cole Linder 1

FT: 12-17 

.

.

Fond du Lac   67     Appleton East   65

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29969034?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

        1

          2

            T

Fond du Lac

      29

         38

          67

Appleton East

      39

         26

           65

Jay Dalton 22, Henry Wright 15, Alex Rusch 8, Drew Dickman 2, Stephen Schreiter 10, Cole Linder 9, Colton Blank 3

3-pt:   (12)    Cole Linder 3, Jay Dalton 4, Stephen Schreiter 2, Henry Wright 1, Colton Blank 1, Alex Rusch 1

FT: 3-5   

.

.

Fond du Lac  60     Hortonville  70

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970263?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Fond du Lac

      25

      35

    60

Hortonville

      29

      41

     70

Jay Dalton 7, Henry Wright 22, Alex Rusch 12, Drew Dickman 2, Stephen Schreiter 9. Cole Linder 8

3-pt:   (8)    Stephen Schreiter 3, Henry Wright 2, Cole Linder 2, Jay Dalton 1

FT: 12-17      Fouls: 21

.

.

Kimberly    105      Fond du Lac   65

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29970260?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

Kimberly        55  50  –  105

Fond du Lac  32  33   –  65

Alex Rusch 17, Henry Wright 16, Cole Linder 3, Owen Gray 3, Jay Dalton 5, Drew Dickmann 13, Moe Craine 2, Stephen Schreiter 6.

3-pt:    (10)    Alex Rusch 3, Henry Wright 2, Dickmann 2, Stephen Schreiter 2, Owen Gray

FT: 10-19. Fouls: 13

.

.

Fond du Lac 81     Appleton West 53

Go to link below for complete game individual & team stats

https://www.wissports.net/game/show/29969154?subseason=688781&referrer=5798847

     1

      2

       T

Fond du Lac

   44

     37

     81

Appleton West       

   26

     27

     53

Jay Dalton 16, Henry Wright 19, Alex Rusch 8, Drew Dickman 19, Stephen Schreiter 5. Cole Linder 6, Colton Blank 7, Ethan Wagner-Lang 1

3-pt:   (15)   Henry Wright 3, Cole Linder 2, Drew Dickman 4, Jay Dalton 2, Stephen Schreiter 1, Alex Rusch 2, Colton Blank 1

FT: 13-19   Fouls: 14

.

‘When you play Fondy, it’s not just a pushover anymore’: Fond du Lac enjoys resurgent season

The Fond du Lac boys basketball team is 6-4 in Fox Valley Association play, more than it has had to celebrate in a long time. The Cardinals stand fourth in winning percentage behind recent powers Neenah, Kimberly and Hortonville. The six conference games Fond du Lac won before the midpoint of January were two more than it had combined in the past two seasons and ties the 2016-17 season.

Senior Henry Wright first played varsity that season and can appreciate the strong season as Fond du Lac tries for its first winning record since 2016. The Cardinals are 7-6 overall. “It’s just nice to see the hard work paying off,” said Wright, who is Fond du Lac’s leading scorer and assist man. “Coach has got us in the gym a lot and everyone’s believing in each other, so that’s good to see that thing change from what it used to be.” Fond du Lac began its game against Oshkosh West on Tuesday in rare form. How’s 27-3 for a start? The Cardinals jumped out to a 15-0 lead and made nine straight 3-pointers to begin the game before Oshkosh West could stop the onslaught. “Coach told us that we haven’t got out and really got a hot start yet,” sophomore guard Jamariea Dalton said. “So we said, ‘OK, we going to go out there and get one.’ “

The keys to the turnaround season led Fond du Lac to the blistering start that Oshkosh West could never recover from in the 69-57 win for the Cardinals. “Getting stops. Obviously starting with that, then running,” Wright said. “We’ve got shooters in the corner and great slashers too.” Oshkosh West clawed back and made it a game, cutting the once 25-point deficit to four points with more than seven minutes left in the game. Having experience closing out close games and winning four of six games decided by five or fewer points played to Fond du Lac’s advantage, Wright said. The Cardinals wouldn’t have won without Dalton’s effort, as he scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half as Wright was in foul trouble. “I knew when Henry had three fouls I was going to have to do something to build this lead back up,” Dalton said.

Fond du Lac’s team stats are not overpowering, but they do some things really well. In FVA games, the Cardinals have attempted the third-most free throws and make them at the second-best rate (72.6%). Middle of the pack in turnovers, Fond du Lac takes and makes the most 3-pointers at the second-best rate (41.2%). Against Oshkosh West, it made 13 of 16 3-pointers and 18 of 20 free throws. Dalton is second in scoring per game at 14.6 points and senior Drew Dickmann averages 11.4 points. Senior Alex Rusch leads the team with 8.1 rebounds and adds in 10.6 points per game.

The Cardinals’ best FVA win came against 7-5 Kaukauna in December. Kaukauna guard Chris Morgan, one of the best FVA players who has a college offer from West Virginia, neared a triple-double and had 28 points. Like the Oshkosh West game, Fond du Lac won the turnover battle against Kaukauna, shot 17 of 23 on free throws and made 10 of 17 on 3-point attempts in the 77-73 comeback win. “I just think we had a huge summer,” Wright said. “Everyone was there twice a day, just putting in the work. So every time we step on the floor, we got a lot of confidence.” It’d be interesting to see how much better Fond du Lac could be if it had its top player, senior forward Mack Sebert. He was an All-FVA honorable mention last season and hasn’t played this season because of a foot injury. He wore a walking boot Tuesday. Fond du Lac will try to build upon the strong defensive game, an area it wants to improve. Its last two games have been two of its three best in scoring defense. “We’re going to come to play every night and share the ball, and when you play Fondy it’s not just a pushover anymore,” Wright said.

.

2020-21 Season Preview

Fond du Lac returns experience; Coach Nick Ford improves culture

It’s going on 20 years since the Fond du Lac boys basketball team won a Fox Valley Association championship.

Legendary coach Dick Diener led the Cardinals to their last league title in 2001. Second-year coach Nick Ford knows all about the history of the program having played for Diener 14 years ago in his last season as coach at Fond du Lac. Ford wants to return Fond du Lac to that caliber of program and believes this year’s team has the experience and mentality to chip away toward that goal.

The Cardinals return nearly all of their production from last year’s team and have eight seniors returning. Fond du Lac played motivated last season under Ford and went 4-14 in the FVA, four wins better than the winless 2018-19 conference year. “They want to be good and they bought in, so the experience is huge and just who they are as guys and players really plays a big role,” Ford said. “They continue to develop and they all had great summers.”

Fond du Lac will be interesting to watch this season, but it’ll be without all-FVA honorable mention Mack Sebert to begin the year. Sebert, a 6-foot-5 senior, has a foot injury and Fond du Lac hopes to have him back in January, Ford said. “We’re going to have to weather the storm until he gets back, but we will,” Ford said. “Our guys are up for the challenge.”

Senior Henry Wright has improved his handle and become a more vocal leader, Ford said. He added that Wright and senior Alex Rusch play more under control and the team has more skill compared to last season.

More important in the grand scheme is that the culture is shifting, Ford said. He said Fond du Lac became a more cohesive group deep into last season and is taking on the tough personality of the town. He mentioned Kimberly and Neenah as programs that set the tone for the FVA. “I don’t think guys necessarily understood what it took to match those guys, the dedication and the work it took,” Ford said. “Staying after practice to get shots or in the summer not missing workouts. When the season comes, if you take a practice off you’re getting beat. “And that just wasn’t the culture here. So the attention to detail, the discipline to wake up every day and have a great day, the discipline to stay after your body’s tired, to battle adversity and not just crumble as soon as bad things happen. “I’d say that’s where we’ve really shown our growth, and that starts with me not getting (mad) at the referees and not blaming other people for losing.”

On offense, Fond du Lac will play more up-tempo and five-out rather than having Sebert inside like a lot of times last season. Ford also said sophomore Jamariea Dalton and junior Drew Dickman will have big roles this season.

“I think our best basketball will be in February rather than December and January as we’re trying to mold these guys together,” Ford said.

Ford was young then, but knows the type of program Fond du Lac was when it shared the 2000-01 FVA championship with Oshkosh West. From 1991 through 2001, the Cardinals won nine FVA titles and four outright. “Trying to get that culture back and trying to get those guys around, our current guys to understand that we’re not the armpit of the FVA and that we’re actually the best program in this thing,” Ford said. “We’ve just got to get it back to that level. And that’s what we aim for.”