After falling 56-50 to Windsor Academy in a Feb. 10 playoff game, the 2025-26 season will show a 2-20 record for the Gatewood boys basketball team.
Still, head coach Don Keiser said he saw something deeper this season than just points on the scoreboard.
In a year marked by a young roster, a challenging region schedule, and too many close losses, Keiser believes the Gators laid a foundation to serve them well in future campaigns.
He pointed out that the team consistently played opponents tough, often falling by single digits in a region that included perennial powers such as Trinity Christian, Central Fellowship, and Brentwood.
According to Keiser, the difference was slimmer than it may have appeared.
What the Gators lacked in experience, they made up for in effort, the coach said. After losing last year’s strong senior class to graduation, as well as a very strong player who transferred, Gatewood returned just one starter this season in junior Landon Moreno. The Gators had only two seniors on the roster — one of whom had never played competitive basketball before this season.
With such an inexperienced group, Keiser knew from the start that the year would be all about growth.
“To be honest, it was a great learning experience for everyone, and I think they all got better,” he said.
Moreno earned All-Region honors, as did 8th grader and team scoring leader Bennett Haley, who also was also named to the All-Region team. Bennett’s brother, sophomore Brady Haley, and senior Lake Ferman each received honorable mentions in a season focused on development.
Keiser pointed to the team’s positive attitude as its defining trait.
“These are the type of years you learn from,” he said. “People don’t realize how important that is, what you learn from years like this. It’s about life.”
He compared the season to his own sophomore year in high school and to a season his son endured as a young coach, when struggles were followed by a region title the next year.
“It’s things you’ve got to go through,” Keiser said. “The guys just had a fantastic attitude all year. They showed up to work hard, and they never gave up. They could have all given up and just said, ‘I’m going to go do something else.’ But they always came to practice, to work, and to get better. And they did.”
For Keiser, that progress is the true measure of success.
“It was a fun year,” he insisted. “People might think, ‘Well, you didn’t win,’ but it was still a fun group to coach. They never questioned, never gave up, and always worked hard. As a coach, that’s about all you can ask for.”
Keiser revealed that Gatewood is set to move into a new region next season that will not include Trinity, Brentwood, or CFCA, potentially opening the door for more wins. With nearly the entire roster returning, a little older and more experienced, the future appears promising for the Gators, he said.
Keiser, however, also revealed he will not be on the sidelines to lead the way for Gatewood.
After compiling a 93-39 career record with the Gators — including an impressive 83 percent winning percentage leading into this season — he has decided to step away from the program.
“93 and 39, I’ll take it,” Keiser said with a smile.
The coach plans to return full-time to public education at a school near Athens, taking advantage of retirement benefits while continuing to work.
As he closes this coaching chapter, Keiser said he remains proud of his time with the Gators — not only for the wins and losses, but for the lessons, especially like those just past.
“We got better as it went on,” he said. “And that’s what it’s been all about.”