Every game is an opportunity to get better. Ryan Moesch and his Chittenango Bears teammates are embracing that after a tough loss at home to Westhill.
“We have to keep fighting," Moesch said. "We have to make shots, and we didn’t.”
Moesch has the Bears in the middle of a solid season, a campaign that has seen him lead the Bears in many offensive categories.
What You Need To Know
- Ryan Moesch says every game is a learning opportunity
- His role is to score points, but he says there's no better feeling than making the smart play
- His love of basketball comes from his brother and father
“There's a lot of kids that can make shots," Chittenango head coach John Clancy said. "Other kids that can pass, but having a combination to be able to do that and often having two or three other players trying to guard them at once is pretty spectacular.”
It’s Moesch's scoring that really stands out. He's averaging close to 40 points per game, making him the top scorer in New York.
“My role is to score," Moesch said. "I just try to do my role and just help the team win. I just try to make the right play in front of me, usually every time.”
His basketball acumen comes from his family. His brother, Alex, is a 1,000-point scorer for the Bears. His father, Jeff, is a former SUNY Cortland standout who helps coach Ryan on the court as a Chittenango assistant.
“I've grown up with it my whole life, ever since I was like 1," Moesch said. "I always looked up to my brother. He's coached me my whole life and he is the best. I mean, I don't think I would be anywhere without him, but I like when he yells at me, so it makes me better.”
“Their family loves basketball," Clancy added. "It takes a big commitment to be good at this and they're willing to make that commitment. Jeff has done a great job of providing every opportunity for his for the boys to succeed. And, you know, they've really done great things so far.”
The Moeschs find balance on the court and at home.
“He's always been my coach," Moesch said. "It's just like normal now. When we are home, we laugh about what happened.”
Moesch is quickly becoming a name to watch in the recruiting landscape.
“He's really is a wonderful kid to be around," Clancy said. "He loves basketball, loves being on the team and loves his teammates. And he's such a great person to be around. For all the accolades he's going to get, at some point the basketball is going to stop and he's still going to have that.”