The Seymour boys basketball team gathered in the school’s auditorium last week to celebrate its 2021-22 season.

The Owls finished with a 15-7 overall record, which is the program’s best mark since the 2006-07 season.

“I think the first thing is we had a group of guys who were really invested in what we were doing here,” head coach Kirk Manns said. “It was what I like to call a really good locker room. They cared for each other, and when you have that type of environment, it makes it really enjoyable to coach and be a part of something like that.”

Manns credited Seymour’s three seniors — Andrew Levine, Marcus Brooks and Casey Regruth — for helping create that environment.

“Our three seniors, they grew into great leaders over their time here,” Manns said. “They were invested, and they were all in.”

Seymour first honored its freshman team, which consisted of Parker Thompson, Ty Tormoehlen, Andrew Higdon, Myles Chandler, Dylan Thompson, Ross Pumphrey, Jake Loebker, Aden Kruse and Tristan Dowell.

Thompson won the Owl award on the freshman team, and Loebker won the scholar athlete award.

Next up was the junior varsity team, which featured Brady Harpe, Michael Brooks, Ethan Silcox, Jack Pennington, Seth Montgomery, Jaylan Johnson, A.J. Harrell and Trevor Goecker.

Brooks won the Owl award for the JV team, while Harpe, Pennington and Harrell all received the scholar athlete award.

As for the varsity, Charlie Longmeier won the unsung player award.

“He doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but when Charlie is playing well, that’s when we’re really good,” Manns said. “He’s taking care of the ball, he’s moving the basketball and doing all those kinds of things. I think at times with this group, he got overlooked.”

The most improved player award went to Levine. Manns credited Levine’s maturity as to why he grew so much as a player this past season.

“With Andrew, he matured as a player, he matured as a young man,” Manns said. “The game kind of slowed down for him as he became a senior. He was a spark for us in so many of our games. He was a guy that could take a charge, hit a three, dive on the floor. I credit that to his maturity.”

Those who watched Seymour on the hardwood this season knew the team’s calling card was its defense. Seymour held opponents under 30 points seven times in their last 13 games, including limiting Shelbyville to 18.

A big piece of that defense was Regruth, who won the defensive player of the year award.

“Casey is a very unique athlete at 6’4”,” Manns said. “He had the strength to bang with big guys down low, but he also had the smarts and the quickness to guard a point guard. It would be different night to night, and Casey could adapt.”

Lastly was the most valuable player award, and Marcus Brooks received that honor.

“Marcus has always been a hard worker,” Manns said. “He was an all-in guy and continued to improve. He was in the gym when he didn’t need to be. He had a great senior season and turned into a great leader. Marcus got everything he could out of his ability. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”

Brooks also took home the Chairman of the Boards award, which recognized his rebounding ability. Brooks also made the all-Hoosier Hills Conference team, while Landon Fritsch and Eli Meyer were HHC honorable mention.

Brooks, Levine and Regruth were all academic all-state, and Brooks and Josh Rennekamp got the scholar athlete award.

Brooks, Meyer, Fritsch, Levine, Regruth and Longmeier were all on The Tribune’s all-county team, as well. With three of those six being seniors, Manns said the team will have a lot to replace next season, especially defensively.

Seymour will look to build off of this season that featured the most regular-season wins (15) since the 1987-88 season.

“We certainly have some big holes to fill,” Manns said. “Defensively, Marcus and Andrew led us in steals, Casey could guard positions one through five. We’ve got some big losses to account for going into next year.”