It was a special moment in a special season as the men’s basketball team’s six seniors stood at half court during a ceremony honoring them before Saturday’s 71–61 win over St. John Fisher College.

The group is as diverse as any group of six basketball players could be. There is the 5-foot-9-inch point guard. A second-year captain, Sean Burton has risen to the top of nearly every statistical category at the college, and with his signature high arcing three-point shots, he could have the three-point lines in Ben Light Gymnasium renamed the Burton lines.

Then, there is the 6-foot-5-inch center. The most electrifying one of the bunch, Jeff Bostic, is Ithaca’s all-time leader in shot blocks and lights up the gym on a nightly basis with his gravity-defying dunks.

Brendan Rogers, another of the team’s trio of captains, has perfected his combination of skill and strength. He can shoot from anywhere on the floor and always makes his presence known on defense with his power.

Standing at least 2 inches above the rest, 6-foot-7-inch Sean Leahy is the picture of consistency. Using his height, Leahy is one of the team’s top rebounders and has the ability to hit the outside shot, knocking down threes with his high release point over defenders.

The other two members of the senior class joined the team last season. Gianni Maratea and Peter Friedland may not get as much playing time as the other four but have made important contributions off the bench and in the locker room. Their efforts were rewarded by the applause of fans, teammates and coaches.

As an exceptionally large senior class, this group has seen its ups and downs throughout its years on South Hill. The players have seen seasons where they barely have had a .500 record but are flourishing this season, ranked No. 9 in the country with a 22–1 record.

“We’ve been through a lot the past couple of seasons, and now all our hard work is paying off,” Leahy said. “It was great to get a win on senior night.”

Leahy said one of his best memories with the team and with this group of seniors was last season’s trip to Daytona Beach, Fla., to play in the Land of Magic Classic. Though the Bombers went 1–1 in Florida, Leahy said spending the time traveling with his teammates is something he will never forget about his time on the team.

The group has become so close during the past four seasons that they bring that camaraderie off the court. Burton and Rogers even share a house.

“It’s a special bunch because we’re all so close and have been for the last four years,” Burton said. “It means a lot to play with each other for this long.”

Head Coach Jim Mullins said when a class gets as close as this year’s seniors have, it creates a home-away-from-home atmosphere among the players and coaches.

“It’s no different than a family dynamic,” Mullins said. “There are times when I’m mad at them and they’re mad at me, but in the end you always love them and appreciate what they did. It’s tough to see them go.”

But before they go, these six seniors are focused on finishing their college basketball careers on the highest note possible.

The Blue and Gold are ranked first in the Empire 8 and are poised to bring the conference tournament to South Hill for the second consecutive year. Standing in their way are two remaining games against Nazareth College tomorrow and against second-place Rochester Institute of Technology on Sunday.

With the Bombers on the verge of making a run deep into the postseason, Mullins said this group will be able to leave its own mark on South Hill.

“The guys that will be left in the program have not only had the opportunity to play with some really good guys, but they should always remember this year and what it took,” he said. “Hopefully that gives them a reference point that they can pass on to future classes. When you’re around somebody, they become part of you.”