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From 5-foot-6-inch Jacob Webb to 6-7 Colin Nutter, the Old Fort community enjoys its basketball.
From Hunter Perry to Hootie Cleveland to Ryan Adelsperger, Stockaders fans have had much to be excited about. Each of the above players was part of at least two conference championships.
Each was part of a poll to determine who fans remember first since the year 2000.
High school golf girls Lakota’s Kyleigh Dull dominated girls golf, and beat the boys, too
Old Fort is a special place for players to play and for fans to watch them. Turns out, it's a great spot to coach basketball as well.
In addition to talented players, people of all ages attend games, including those who no longer have kids in the school district. Some never did.
They might be a neighbor, but they often don't even know the kids. They create an atmosphere sharing the games with them.
"The tradition makes it special in a small community bringing everyone together," Stockaders coach Eric Hoover said.
The student section is typically stocked, even if many schools have more of them. The players feel the crowd and feed off the crowd.
It makes them feel like part of the community, more than a student.
"It's something to feel good about, to compete and play with that crowd behind them," Hoover said.
The gym is large, with permanent seating on one side. There are seat backs and arm rests for every fan on that side.
New bleachers were installed in the gym five years ago, which modernized the look. Everything wasn't done at once, but all the seats are uniform again.
A new scoreboard was added two years ago and an upgrade to the floor is in the works. There is no football at Old Fort and, obviously, basketball is important.
"Everybody sees the gym," Hoover said. "That's where everyone is together in the school. We have the best gym around. There are newer ones, but almost 40 years old, they keep it fresh and new."
All of it combines to make the Stockaders feel like they have a home court advantage.
Opponents have to be impressed by what they see before games start. Then, they have to stop Hunter Perry.
Perry was a sophomore when Hoover took the helm. Perry is the best all-around player for the Stockaders who Hoover coached.
Perry was instinctual, doing things you couldn't teach; he loved the game, and he worked. He averaged 28.8 points and led the team in rebounds and assists as a senior.
He finished his career with 1,441 points. He scored 55 points, including nine 3-pointers in one game and more than 40 points in a few others.
"He was unguardable for the most part," Hoover said. "He got all the attention. Double teams and face guards. He could pull up and shoot from the volleyball line, and it looked the same."
Opposing coaches would look at Hoover incredulously.
"Sorry," Hoover said. "I'm glad he's on my team and not yours. You're watching with amazement. He was an unbelievable basketball talent."
Nutter stood out by averaging a double-double at 20 points and 10 rebounds. He started a run of players who dunked in games, including Adelsperger, Isaac Gallagher and Henry Beisner.
Adelsperger certainly got a kick out of his slams, but he worked harder on his jump shot than anybody else for Hoover. It showed, with a 40% mark on 3-pointers.
"His senior year was one of the best in school history," Hoover said. "He was a dream to coach. An outstanding teammate."
Webb could almost dunk. He could jump high enough to make it necessary to duck to avoid hitting his head on the backboard, but he couldn't palm the ball.
There wasn't much else he couldn't do. He wanted to play every minute, and he wanted to compete.
"Height is an advantage in basketball," Hoover said. "He didn't need it. He was short and strong and explosive. He used his speed and his skill. He wasn't afraid of the big guys. He'd surprise people jumping and trying to dunk. He was fearless."
He sent Hoover videos dunking after high school.
Cleveland delighted fans with his ability to shoot the ball. He made 259 3-pointers in his career, which is 23rd all-time in the state.
"He exemplified that and made by far more 3-pointers than anybody," Hoover said. "He'd shoot them from anywhere. He had deep range. It's fun to see those go in and exciting to see that happen."
What do all of the above players have in common? For starters, there's the championships.
Old Fort won the Midland Athletic League in 2013 and 2014, and the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division in 2017-2021, 2023 and 2025.
Each player scored at least 1,000 points in his career. All their teams experienced consistent support from fans, and they were coached by Hoover.
He was an assistant for Mohawk, where he's a teacher, for nine years. He was disappointed when he wasn't chosen to coach the team when the top job opened.
"This happens a lot in life; another opportunity opens," he said. "The next year, Old Fort contacted me. I have family there, I graduated (1996) from there. I had pride to begin with. I wanted to turn it in the right direction. I had no idea I'd be there 15 years.
"The relationships in the community and with the kids are a big part of my life. It worked out the best for everybody."
Stockaders players and fans certainly love it.
[email protected]
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Old Fort gym special place for players, fans
Continue reading...
From Hunter Perry to Hootie Cleveland to Ryan Adelsperger, Stockaders fans have had much to be excited about. Each of the above players was part of at least two conference championships.
Each was part of a poll to determine who fans remember first since the year 2000.
High school golf girls Lakota’s Kyleigh Dull dominated girls golf, and beat the boys, too
Old Fort is a special place for players to play and for fans to watch them. Turns out, it's a great spot to coach basketball as well.
In addition to talented players, people of all ages attend games, including those who no longer have kids in the school district. Some never did.
They might be a neighbor, but they often don't even know the kids. They create an atmosphere sharing the games with them.
"The tradition makes it special in a small community bringing everyone together," Stockaders coach Eric Hoover said.
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The student section is typically stocked, even if many schools have more of them. The players feel the crowd and feed off the crowd.
It makes them feel like part of the community, more than a student.
"It's something to feel good about, to compete and play with that crowd behind them," Hoover said.
The gym is large, with permanent seating on one side. There are seat backs and arm rests for every fan on that side.
New bleachers were installed in the gym five years ago, which modernized the look. Everything wasn't done at once, but all the seats are uniform again.
A new scoreboard was added two years ago and an upgrade to the floor is in the works. There is no football at Old Fort and, obviously, basketball is important.
"Everybody sees the gym," Hoover said. "That's where everyone is together in the school. We have the best gym around. There are newer ones, but almost 40 years old, they keep it fresh and new."
All of it combines to make the Stockaders feel like they have a home court advantage.
Stockaders love their stage
Opponents have to be impressed by what they see before games start. Then, they have to stop Hunter Perry.
Perry was a sophomore when Hoover took the helm. Perry is the best all-around player for the Stockaders who Hoover coached.
Perry was instinctual, doing things you couldn't teach; he loved the game, and he worked. He averaged 28.8 points and led the team in rebounds and assists as a senior.
He finished his career with 1,441 points. He scored 55 points, including nine 3-pointers in one game and more than 40 points in a few others.
"He was unguardable for the most part," Hoover said. "He got all the attention. Double teams and face guards. He could pull up and shoot from the volleyball line, and it looked the same."
Opposing coaches would look at Hoover incredulously.
"Sorry," Hoover said. "I'm glad he's on my team and not yours. You're watching with amazement. He was an unbelievable basketball talent."
Nutter stood out by averaging a double-double at 20 points and 10 rebounds. He started a run of players who dunked in games, including Adelsperger, Isaac Gallagher and Henry Beisner.
Adelsperger certainly got a kick out of his slams, but he worked harder on his jump shot than anybody else for Hoover. It showed, with a 40% mark on 3-pointers.
"His senior year was one of the best in school history," Hoover said. "He was a dream to coach. An outstanding teammate."
Webb could almost dunk. He could jump high enough to make it necessary to duck to avoid hitting his head on the backboard, but he couldn't palm the ball.
There wasn't much else he couldn't do. He wanted to play every minute, and he wanted to compete.
"Height is an advantage in basketball," Hoover said. "He didn't need it. He was short and strong and explosive. He used his speed and his skill. He wasn't afraid of the big guys. He'd surprise people jumping and trying to dunk. He was fearless."
He sent Hoover videos dunking after high school.
Cleveland delighted fans with his ability to shoot the ball. He made 259 3-pointers in his career, which is 23rd all-time in the state.
"He exemplified that and made by far more 3-pointers than anybody," Hoover said. "He'd shoot them from anywhere. He had deep range. It's fun to see those go in and exciting to see that happen."
What do all of the above players have in common? For starters, there's the championships.
Old Fort won the Midland Athletic League in 2013 and 2014, and the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division in 2017-2021, 2023 and 2025.
Each player scored at least 1,000 points in his career. All their teams experienced consistent support from fans, and they were coached by Hoover.
He was an assistant for Mohawk, where he's a teacher, for nine years. He was disappointed when he wasn't chosen to coach the team when the top job opened.
"This happens a lot in life; another opportunity opens," he said. "The next year, Old Fort contacted me. I have family there, I graduated (1996) from there. I had pride to begin with. I wanted to turn it in the right direction. I had no idea I'd be there 15 years.
"The relationships in the community and with the kids are a big part of my life. It worked out the best for everybody."
Stockaders players and fans certainly love it.
[email protected]
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Old Fort gym special place for players, fans
Continue reading...
