Seniors Leo Weber and Jack Warden have competed against some of the best players in the WIAA for the past four years.

Weber and Warden both represented Notre Dame Academy in the annual Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Star Game, one of the most notable high school basketball games in the State of Wisconsin. 

This game brings the top seniors from all of the state conferences together, collects the money for charity, and is the last step for those players who will be considered among the best players that defined Wisconsin High School Basketball that year. 

To Weber, this was the ideal exit. “I thought it was fun,” Leo “Cinco” Weber stated. “It was definitely a great experience to be able to play with all of the best players I had been going up against over the last few years.”

You shouldn’t think of an All-Star Game as being this easy game because both conferences showed a desire to win, so there was no letdown once the ball tipped off. 

“Before the game, no one probably thought the FRCC would win, and we just wanted to go out there and show everyone that we came here to compete,” Warden said

“They both wanted to win, so it felt competitive,” Weber added.

At first glance, there seemed to be a lot of talented players on the field, but the guys quickly adjusted to what they saw: bigger and more athletic defenders than they would commonly compete against during the regular season of play. 

“Playing against players we’ve scouted and got to know, it felt like I knew them but never at the personal level, always just trying to win against them,” Warden said. 

Weber went deep into his ball state to adjust his plan. “The players were much taller,” Weber stated. “Therefore, I shot all of my shots from outside of the paint.”

The unique aspect of the All-Star Game that makes this so interesting for these players is getting to play with guys you’ve tried to beat for years. 

“Seeing some of these guys we’ve been competing against for our whole lives and finally playing with them on the same team was something different, and it was cool to connect with them differently,” Warden said

“It was nice to get to play with them and get to use their talents for my team instead of trying to figure out how to shut them down,” Weber said. 

Like many other All-Star Games, chemistry didn’t develop similarly to how it did over the past four years for these two young men. 

The team did develop some chemistry, and the connection wasn’t until after the final buzzer sounded, and they all sat down for dinner. 

“Once we all met up after the game and ate together, it seemed like I really connected with some guys I usually wouldn’t talk to,” Weber said. 

Both Leo Weber and Jack Warden had their NDA jerseys on during the game in Wisconsin Dells, and the two made sure that meant something. 

“That way it shows that we are a serious team and can compete with any level of player in the state of Wisconsin,” Weber stated.

The WBCA All-Star Game draws from schools across the state of Wisconsin. 

Being chosen for this means you’re part of the discussion. Weber and Warden both showed NDA belongs in this discussion. 

“It was pretty cool and something I’ll remember forever to be able to play with all the other top players I’ve been guarding for the past years,” Warden said. 

“That’s proof for me and Jack that we can both compete with anyone at our age,” Weber said. 

As they walked onto the court before tip-off, both stayed calm mentally. 

“Just be chill-ready,” Warden said. “Once you reach that state the good performance follows.”

That mindset followed Warden throughout his basketball career. 

And for Weber, basketball has never ever been a burden to him; it’s always been an outlet, an outlet he could come back to, simply because he loved it.

“Always have,” Weber said. “I enjoy playing the game.”

When the two reflected on everything four years gave them, the All-Star Game framed everything perfectly

“It helped me appreciate all the hard work I put in and how it really paid off,’ Weber said. “I hope to take that same work ethic and apply it to other parts of my life now.”

Warden added, “This game was a great honor to prove that my hard work paid off.”  

The duo wanted to add an extended thank you to all the teammates and coaches who helped them accomplish these milestones along the way.