“It means a lot, I can’t even put it into words,” senior forward Anton Webb said when talking about his team.
The Taylor men’s basketball program said goodbye to four seniors at the end of this season. Including Webb, Kaden Fuhrmann, Kobe Funderburk and Caleb Hodgson. The year gave the Trojans many memories to reflect on.
Taylor ended their season 14–15. They went 7–11 in conference, with a home record of 9–5 and an away record of 3–10. Webb and Fuhrmann capped their careers with All-Crossroads League Honors.
The Trojans’ roster faced quite a few obstacles when they brought in a new coaching staff for the 2024-2025 season. The senior class had to adjust to a new system after three years under former coach Josh Andrews.
“That was a big adjustment for me,” said Webb. “It took me a while to really accept it, but once I did personally, I feel like that’s when we got things rolling.”
Fuhrmann spoke highly of head coach Austin Peters and his staff. Their commitment to their faith was so impactful to the players. The relationship that formed between the coaches and players helped the seniors appreciate their last year.
Coach Peters shared that same appreciation for the players.
“We (Peters and his family) felt very welcomed,” he said. “The players mean everything to me. I can’t put it into words.”
The moments created many fond memories for the players, coaches and fans to look back on. Webb and Fuhrmann highlighted this year’s 107-59 Silent Night victory over Moody Bible Insititute and beating out conference rivals IWU in a hard-fought game 79-76 in January.
But with all the tight games and fantastic plays, Webb, Fuhrmann and Peters all connect it back to the relationship in the locker room.
“I’d say the main highlight was the relationships with all my teammates. They are my brothers … it brought the joy of basketball back to me,” said Fuhrmann.
Coach Peters said doing life with the players is his largest highlight of the season. As the team prepares to say goodbye to the seniors, the team can look back on a lifelong bond they created.
“It’s a bittersweet moment. Seeing those guys leave is hard, but I’m excited to see where they go and where God will take them,” said Peters.
Looking forward to next season, Peters seeks to improve in every area of the game, working daily to get better. Coach Peters and his staff have taken a look at the roster to see what holes need to be filled and where they can grow this recruiting season
With the seniors leaving, many emotions are going around. Webb was grateful for the accountability in the basketball sense, but also the brotherhood the team created.
“This junior and senior class has been with me all three years,” Webb said. “I love coming in every day, working with them and getting better. They’ve truly had a big impact on my life on and off the court.”
Fuhrmann echoed Webb’s words, and said,“I love them (teammates), I love them all. They're my brothers.”
One of the great games of the year was Goshen at home. The game was a tough back and forth match that went into triple overtime. Fuhrmann ended with 23 points and six rebounds. Webb had 33 points and 20 rebounds.
With multiple buzzer-beaters and the crowd on the edge of their seats, Webb and Fuhrmann were the heroes. Taylor pulled out their eleventh win in the season 110-102.
Both Fuhrmann and Webb reminisced on that moment. While there was a bit of frustration at not shutting the game down at the end of regulation, they could not deny the fun they had winning an overtime thriller. It was yet another moment they could look back on and smile.
The future for Webb and Fuhrmann is still undecided. They know that wherever God takes them is the right place for them. Both men are considering a single year at a Division I school, but they are not opposed to ending their collegiate careers as Trojans. The other option is heading overseas to play. So far, the decision is still in the air.
