Manchester Seniors Hope To End Careers With A Bang
March 27, 2025 at 4:10 p.m.
There are seven seniors on the Manchester boys basketball team, each of them will end their high school careers on Saturday when they play against University for the 2A state championship. Their goal is to go out as winners, but by making it this far and becoming the first ever Squire basketball team to play for a state title, their legacy is already set in stone.
“They’re the reason why we’re here. Two 18-win seasons and now 25 wins this year. That’s not because of me,” head coach Eli Henson said about the group. “I can push them in the right direction but they’re the ones that go out and execute. They’ve turned this program from a mediocre program into a great program and that’s something we’ll have to sustain. Those guys have put this program on their back and taken it to a whole different level.”
Two of those seniors, Gavin Betten and Ethan Hendrix, have started since they were freshman. Tallon Torpy joined the fray as a sophomore. Wyatt Prater, Kaleb Kline, Carter Wagoner and Nick Cave all followed.
“These guys are all great guys, they all work hard. They never settle for less,” Hendrix said. “They’re always pushing me, Gavin, everyone. They always want to be the best they can be and make everyone around them better.”
In each of the four years, Manchester won more games in the regular season than the year prior. The only thing the group lacked was success in the tournament.
That all changed this season. This year’s team was able to deliver the Squires’ first sectional championship in 30 years, the first regional title in 31 and the first semi-state crown ever.
“It’s been incredible. It’s going to be tough leaving that court knowing we’re not going to be playing together again,” Betten said. “I love this group. It’s been pretty special the past four years and I’m excited to go out there and try to finish with a bang.”
While this will be the group’s last dance as teammates, it won’t be the final rodeo for Betten and Hendrix, who will continue being teammates next season and beyond as they both head to Grace to join an already loaded Lancers’ roster. According to Hendrix, the duo have been playing together since the second grade, and he’s excited at the prospect of continuing their success at the next level.
“It means so much to me. Growing up around Gavin and playing with him for all these years has really meant a lot to me,” he said. “Being able to play with him for the next four years, it's going to be awesome.”
Betten shared the same sentiment.
“We’ve grown up together. From playing little league baseball to varsity basketball, it’s been really cool,” he said. “Ethan’s my favorite teammate and I’m excited to keep it going.”
While Betten and Hendrix garner most of the attention, the pairing wanted to make it clear that they would not be here without the hard work of their teammates throughout their careers. They specifically wanted to shout out Kline, who is remarkably playing this season on a fully torn ACL that he suffered during football season. Hendrix said that his efforts encapsulate what makes this team so special.
“You look at us and we’re not the biggest guys or the strongest guys, but we want it,” He said. “Kaleb is a really good example. Playing on a torn ACL but he never stops, he never settles. He just keeps going and pushing himself and us. That just sums us up perfectly.”
Henson agreed.
“He gives us so much. He’s so tough and he hits so many clutch shots for us,” he said. “I think he played 27 minutes against Gary. That’s just amazing.”
Because this group has played together for so long, they’ve been through almost everything imaginable together. This is something that Henson considers to be one of their biggest strengths.
“They’ve been playing together for so long, to have them out there in clutch moments, you know that they’re going to be able to deliver,” he said. “They’re so poised. The nerves don’t get to them at all. As long as they have confidence in themselves, I feel great about the chances they give us.”
No matter what happens on Saturday, this Manchester team will be remembered forever in Kosciusko and Wabash county. That being said, the players themselves won’t be satisfied unless they can finish the job.
“It’s going to be fun, I’m really looking forward to the experience and I’m going to do everything I can to bring that trophy home,” Betten said.
There are seven seniors on the Manchester boys basketball team, each of them will end their high school careers on Saturday when they play against University for the 2A state championship. Their goal is to go out as winners, but by making it this far and becoming the first ever Squire basketball team to play for a state title, their legacy is already set in stone.
“They’re the reason why we’re here. Two 18-win seasons and now 25 wins this year. That’s not because of me,” head coach Eli Henson said about the group. “I can push them in the right direction but they’re the ones that go out and execute. They’ve turned this program from a mediocre program into a great program and that’s something we’ll have to sustain. Those guys have put this program on their back and taken it to a whole different level.”
Two of those seniors, Gavin Betten and Ethan Hendrix, have started since they were freshman. Tallon Torpy joined the fray as a sophomore. Wyatt Prater, Kaleb Kline, Carter Wagoner and Nick Cave all followed.
“These guys are all great guys, they all work hard. They never settle for less,” Hendrix said. “They’re always pushing me, Gavin, everyone. They always want to be the best they can be and make everyone around them better.”
In each of the four years, Manchester won more games in the regular season than the year prior. The only thing the group lacked was success in the tournament.
That all changed this season. This year’s team was able to deliver the Squires’ first sectional championship in 30 years, the first regional title in 31 and the first semi-state crown ever.
“It’s been incredible. It’s going to be tough leaving that court knowing we’re not going to be playing together again,” Betten said. “I love this group. It’s been pretty special the past four years and I’m excited to go out there and try to finish with a bang.”
While this will be the group’s last dance as teammates, it won’t be the final rodeo for Betten and Hendrix, who will continue being teammates next season and beyond as they both head to Grace to join an already loaded Lancers’ roster. According to Hendrix, the duo have been playing together since the second grade, and he’s excited at the prospect of continuing their success at the next level.
“It means so much to me. Growing up around Gavin and playing with him for all these years has really meant a lot to me,” he said. “Being able to play with him for the next four years, it's going to be awesome.”
Betten shared the same sentiment.
“We’ve grown up together. From playing little league baseball to varsity basketball, it’s been really cool,” he said. “Ethan’s my favorite teammate and I’m excited to keep it going.”
While Betten and Hendrix garner most of the attention, the pairing wanted to make it clear that they would not be here without the hard work of their teammates throughout their careers. They specifically wanted to shout out Kline, who is remarkably playing this season on a fully torn ACL that he suffered during football season. Hendrix said that his efforts encapsulate what makes this team so special.
“You look at us and we’re not the biggest guys or the strongest guys, but we want it,” He said. “Kaleb is a really good example. Playing on a torn ACL but he never stops, he never settles. He just keeps going and pushing himself and us. That just sums us up perfectly.”
Henson agreed.
“He gives us so much. He’s so tough and he hits so many clutch shots for us,” he said. “I think he played 27 minutes against Gary. That’s just amazing.”
Because this group has played together for so long, they’ve been through almost everything imaginable together. This is something that Henson considers to be one of their biggest strengths.
“They’ve been playing together for so long, to have them out there in clutch moments, you know that they’re going to be able to deliver,” he said. “They’re so poised. The nerves don’t get to them at all. As long as they have confidence in themselves, I feel great about the chances they give us.”
No matter what happens on Saturday, this Manchester team will be remembered forever in Kosciusko and Wabash county. That being said, the players themselves won’t be satisfied unless they can finish the job.
“It’s going to be fun, I’m really looking forward to the experience and I’m going to do everything I can to bring that trophy home,” Betten said.