'We've worked all our lives for this'

“Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.” — Albert Einstein

(A special thank you to Tammy Curry for providing the photos..) 

​According to the estimations of Cole Buckley, he and his friends first started talking about playing at the Giant Center when they were still in elementary school.

"I remember there were times in sixth grade when we would tell each other 'Hey, we are going to go to Hershey.' We were going to be the ones to do it," he said. 

On Tuesday, the manifestation of that dream was complete. He and his seven fellow seniors - Damon Curry, Gavin Eakin, Darius Graham, Damarco and Dreyden Payne, Ethan Umbenhauer, and Jalen Wood are indeed headed to Hershey. A group of friends who have been playing ball together for nearly a decade, according to Wood.  

"We've known each other forever. Everything we do is together. Even outside of basketball, we are always together," Wood said.

Wood's dad JimBob Wood was one of their early coaches for travel ball. "They are an amazing group of kids," he said after Tuesday's big win. He said the basketball aptitude among the class of 2024 was evident as early as fourth grade. "Last year's talent, this year's talent was unreal when they were young."

A quick glance through a few photo albums from 2017 and 2018 confirms the passion had from the start. 

"They loved playing basketball. They loved to grind it. They just loved the game," JimBob said of those early years helping teach the pre-teens how to play. 

Over the years, the friendships continued off and on the court, which has contributed to their success.
 
"They don't care who has the best game, who scores the most points. None of that matters. They just fight for one another,' JimBob Wood said. 

"It's just something we grew up together doing," Curry said. "And (we have) an ability to just translate onto the floor and have chemistry."

Franklin head coach Jason Fulmer says he first became aware of the talent and passion of the class of 2024 when they were still scattered among the district's elementary school, sometimes playing as teammates and sometimes meeting as rivals. 

Now they are just like his kids. He praised their dedication to playing during the offseason to improve their skills, travel to play in places like New Castle, Slippery Rock and Erie, and elevate each other's performances. 

"(Starters) Damarco, Dame, Jalen - one-sport guys (who) eat, sleep and drink it... probably since about fifth grade. That's when they came on my radar," Fulmer said. "Buck dedicated himself in June. He got that much better. Dreyden is just your junkyard dog. He's going to be at everything... It doesn't matter if he is walking around on one leg." 

"It's tough not to love them," he said of the team. 

And all the hard work paid off Tuesday in the form of a ticket to Hershey to meet Devon Prep for a chance to be the top 3A boys team in the state at 2 p.m. Saturday.

"They deserve every bit of it," JimBob Wood said. 

"We've worked all our lives for this," Buckley said. And to finally do it, I don't even know how to describe it."  

Curry did have a word for it - great. "It's one of those things you think of when you are little, back when we were together in third or fourth grade. It's a great, great feeling." 

Throughout the season, the five starters have taken turns in the role of lead scorer, crashing the boards, feeding assists and snagging the steals. 

Here are the numbers for the eight seniors points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals:

Damarco Payne - 322, 81, 49, 3, 24.
Gavin Eakin - 81, 28, 28, 3, 14.
Ethan Umbenhauer - 29, 11, 19, 0, 7.
Cole Buckley - 316, 161, 89, 7, 37.
Jalen Wood - 510, 107, 148, 27, 73.
Dreyden Payne - 201, 117, 36, 2, 22.
Damon Curry - 394, 147, 73, 30, 32.
Darius Graham - 45, 61, 20, 1, 13.