The Friends Academy Falcons boys basketball team soared through their best ever season.

Led by captains Anthony Bruno and Jack Bennett, this ten-man team finished out their last season together with a record of 12-3. They came in second in their league in the 2015-2016 season. The league is an informal gathering Amateur Athletic Union on the South Coast and in Rhode Island.

Athletic Director Michael Williams has been coaching basketball at Friends Academy for nearly two decades and was fortunate enough to get this group of athletes, all eighth graders, two years ago.

“This is the most talented group I’ve had here in 16 years,” Williams said.

This group of teammates have been striving to be the best since they became eligible to play on the team as sixth graders. Williams recalls Bennet and Dave Silvia calling their first game as Falcons a “statement game.”

“They won that game by 57 points,” Williams said.

That work ethic has persisted through the years. On the first practice of the season, Williams arrived to find all the players not only present but working out which of four plays they wanted to learn first.

Trouncing the competition has been a theme that has persisted through the years. This season, the Falcons’ have averaged winning by 15 to 20 points. With players like Charles Yancho, standing at 6’1,” the Falcons are a force to be reckoned with. However, each player, tall or small, brings their own skills and style to the table.

“We’re friends on and off the court,” said Peter Veale.

The group has been looking forward to aging up and becoming eligible to play since the third grade. They’ve been friends for even longer.

Though the team is proud of their accomplishments and their teammates, they are quick to be critical of their own shortcomings despite their stellar season. However, they’re proud to say they learn from their losses and constantly strive to improve.

“[This season,] we really played together as a team,” Silvia said.

Over the years, they’ve become adept at reading each other’s body language, facial expressions and can even predict what they’ll do net on the court.

“We really know each other,” said Anthony Valone, playfully nicknamed “Mr. Athleticism.”

This season was their final season together as classmates, teammates and friends before moving on to high school. It’s not just each other they’ll be missing as they move on. Williams and the teachers they’ve had were just as important in shaping their experience at Friends.

“I’m gonna miss some teachers, Mr. Williams... but I think I’m ready to move on,” said Nils Holland.

“Sixteen years, man. You guys got the prize,” Williams said. “I would say that a part of their success is from the family atmosphere. They all look out for each other. That’s what I enjoyed most about coaching these guys.”

This isn’t the end for the 2015-2016 Falcons, though. They will be reuniting for one last game at Mansfield this summer.