VIENNA — While Vienna Middle School basketball has been keeping the gym lights on this fall, the high school teams are about to take the court for their turn. Practice for both the girls and boys squads begins Nov. 3, and with it comes a new season that belongs to a group who have grown into their moment, not put. Last year they were the juniors learning to carry the load. This year they are seniors, the captains and the heartbeat of Vienna basketball.

For the Lady Eagles, that heartbeat is senior captain Aubrey Schwartze, who returns after one of the best seasons in program history. She earned herself the title as Vienna’s lone MBCA All-District selection, averaging a double double with 17 points and 12 rebounds per game. She poured in a season-high 35 points with 18 rebounds in the Battle of Maries County against Belle last season and reached the 1,000-point milestone in a 27-point game against Cuba. Schwartze scored in double figures in all but four contests last year and finished with 17 double doubles in 26 games. This means in 65 percent of games, Schwartze had a double-double.

Her impact extended far beyond the stat sheet. She handled the ball when needed, dished out six assists against Calvary Lutheran, collected eight steals against New Bloomfield and blocked four shots on four separate occasions last season.

Now entering her senior season, Schwartze has set her sights on becoming Vienna’s all-time leading scorer while also chasing her goal of playing basketball at a collegiate level. She knows this year is her chance to cement her legacy, both as a leader and as one of the most dominant players to ever wear a Lady Eagles uniform.

Across the gym, junior captain Teagan James will take command of the boys team. James was the Eagles’ steadying force last year, leading with 13.6 points per game while finishing second in rebounds, assists and steals. In the Class 2 District 9 Tournament, he erupted for a season-high 26 points against Iberia and grabbed a season-best 12 rebounds against Plato. He posted a double double against the Rangers and consistently anchored Vienna on both ends of the floor.

James, who is only a junior, brings a quiet intensity that his teammates rally around. He can score from anywhere, handle the ball under pressure and lock down defensively. This season he’s expected to take on an even greater offensive role, using his experience and composure to guide a young roster to find their rhythm early in the season. As the only returning All-District player, the team will look to him to set the tone.

For both programs, this season is about more than rebuilding or adjusting. It’s about seizing the moment. For the girls, the juniors from last year are now the seniors with something to prove. They’ve been through the grind, they’ve played in the big games and they know exactly what it takes to get Vienna’s name back on a championship banner. For the boys, it will be about staying composed and showing what a team can do with a junior captain. A captain that will most likely be VHS captain for a couple years.

The lights will be bright, the pressure real, but for this class, that’s exactly how they like it. The juniors and Seniors are here to play, and now, they’re ready to lead.