These five basketball Bobcats have helped their team these last few seasons. And this farewell is going to be bittersweet.

Jonathan Suhayda #11:

Suhayda is a guard who has been playing basketball for eight years. His basketball favorite memory is making the playoffs sophomore year.

He plans to attend a four-year college to study business finance.

Charlie Higgs #23:

Higgs is a versatile player filling all positions on the court. This is his twelfth year playing basketball.

He hopes to continue playing basketball in college. His favorite basketball memory is his entire sophomore season.

Higgs has had a few nominations for the Beaver County Times player of the week this year for his amazing skills and his leadership on the court.

Sebastian Hill #24:

Hill is a forward who has been playing basketball for Beaver Area since he moved to here in seventh grade.

Tyler Ziggas #32:

Ziggas is in his tenth year playing basketball and fills the guard and forward positions.

His favorite basketball memory is having students at the games cheering for them (Remember attending sporting events?).

He plans on attending college to study business and minor in entrepreneurship.

Brady Hansen:

Sophomore year Hansen wore number 14 as a point guard and shooting guard. He has been playing basketball for eight years.

Unfortunately, injuries both his junior and senior years kept him off the court these last two seasons—but he still considers himself a team member.

His favorite basketball memory is still bus rides to and from games with his teammates.

Hansen plans to attend college and major in pre-medicine and health.

Without a doubt, this season has been different—and difficult—for the boys team. Not having their friends and family in the stands to cheer them on is a rough thought.

The outbreak of COVID-19 cleared the bleachers, and knowing that at any point, this could be their last game if cases flare up again, sits in the backs of their minds every time they hit the court.

The Bobcats have been getting better as the season goes on. And while their overall record is 0-13, those numbers aren’t stopping them from wanting to win—the drive is still there.

The Bobcats finally broke the losing streak with a huge 61-26 win against the Hopewell VIkings February 20.

“[The win] took long enough but [it was] well deserved. We’re capable of a lot more than just one [win], but we did everything right and that’s what matters,” explained Higgs after the win.

Four short days later they faced the Ambridge Bridgers in a tough back and forth loss 78-74. A loss, yes, but it was close.

The Bobcats must have been saving everything up for the playoffs, or perhaps losing so many regular season games was a clever trick to disarm their opponents. But either way, it worked.

The Bobcats defeated the Uniontown Raiders 62-56 March 2.

Ziggas led the Bobcats to their win with 15 points. Sophomore Sawyer Butler netted 14, followed by junior Joshua Hill with 12 points.

“It was super exciting to see everyone hyped up after the game. It was a well deserved win and the celebration was well earned,” explained Butler.

Sadly, the Bobcats’ season came to an end March 4 when they fell short to the Montour Spartans 55-36, a lot to not enough.

Their final season record was 2-17.

Best of luck to the graduating seniors—and best of luck to the returning Cats next season!