The Middleton High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team kicked off their 2023-24 season with a win on Saturday Nov. 25 against the DeForest Norskies. Middleton came out on top with a score of 78-63. 

The team is led by Head Coach Kevin Bavery, who is in his 18th year of coaching at Middleton. Bavery’s impressive record with the team has proven that he is a mastermind of the game. During the 2022-23 season he brought his team to the playoffs with a 25-2 record.

Although the team has taken a hit losing seniors from last season, players like junior Will Garlock have stepped up to the challenge and filled the roles of last year’s impressive seniors. Garlock, who stands at 6 ’10, can be seen putting up a dunk almost every time he drives to the basket. 

Other key contributors include Gavin Meister, a senior and one of the leading scorers for the Cardinals. His quickness and great ball handling skills led him to put up 28 points in their game against Verona on Tuesday, Dec 5.

Despite the fact that there are few underclassmen on the Varsity team, sophomore Isaiah Oliver has been a key part in their offense strategy..

The Middleton Cardinals currently hold a record of 4-1. Their one loss was to tough conference opponent Vel Phillips Memorial. Middleton came up short with a score of 50-34. 

However, Middleton has bounced back since their loss with a three game win streak. The Cardinals took down Madison La Follette on Saturday, Dec. 2, with a score of 76-57. 

Middleton played back to back conference games three days later, taking a trip to Verona to face the Wildcats. In an intense rivalry game, Middleton came out on top in a shootout, winning 76-65. 

To carry on the streak, Middleton defeated the Janesville Craig Cougars 62-56 in a hard-fought game by both teams. 

In their most recent game, Middleton defeated the Madison West Regents and extended their win streak to three.

Middleton now holds a record of 5-1, and look to extend their win streak against Edgewood.