NORTHFIELD — Pioneer boys basketball coach Scott Thayer remembers looking up after defeating Hopkins Academy to win the 2018 Div. 4 West sectional title and seeing his son, Brayden Thayer, and his friends watching from above the indoor track at the Curry Hicks Cage in Amherst.

Now those same kids who were watching the culture being built at Pioneer are adding their own chapter to the book, hoping to bring a state championship back to Northfield on Saturday when it faces off against Hopedale  in the MIAA Div. 5 state final.

“Almost every one of these kids was up on the track watching that game,” Thayer said. “You forecast and see how it came to fruition. That’s how the culture starts. You see how that team got there and get the blueprint. It’s the work, determination and ability to handle adversity. Getting here to this point is hard. Not a lot of teams ever get here. To be able to get there is a victory in it of itself. These guys have to be cognizant of that whole thing to enjoy it too. You have to keep working at it and stay humble and hungry.”

It’s a special group for Thayer, one that the longtime coach has been working with for years before they got to the varsity level. 

With that group — Brayden Thayer, Kurt Redeker, Alex McClelland, Ben Werner and Will Glazier — all seniors, Saturday will be the final time they will be taking the court together in a Pioneer uniform. 

“It’s a fun group,” Scott Thayer said. “I’ll have my time once it all ends on Saturday and it will be emotional for me. Brayden, Kurt and Al have been with me since they were in seventh grade. They’re like sons — one of them is my son."

That can be a difficult challenge in and of itself. There are always challenges when having a child on the team and the perceptions that come with it, but Scott Thayer said his son gets the opposite of special treatment at Pioneer.

“It’s been a hard dynamic but it’s been easy too,” Scott Thayer said. “He gets treated just like everybody else, probably a little bit rougher in practice than anybody else. They all respect it and understand. I always wanted them to understand when we’re on the court practicing or in a game, he’s just another player. He’s no different. When we leave the gym he’s my son. People can look at it from the outside and think he gets favoritism. You can ask [assistant coach Fred Redeker] it’s the complete opposite.” 

As a player, you grow up thinking about winning a state championship. Being able to do it with your father as the coach would make it that much more meaningful. 

“It’s extra special doing it with him,” Brayden Thayer said. “As a little kid I always dreamed of playing in these big games with him. This is my last game I’ll get to be with him. It’s pretty special. If we go out on top, that’s a pretty good ending to the story.”

Now the player the younger kids in the community are looking up to, Thayer and the Panthers are trying to set an example and standard for the program for years to come. 

“It’s cool, for sure, bringing the community together as one,” Brayden Thayer said. “There’s kids that come up to us idolizing us after games. That’s pretty cool. You just want to be a good role model for everybody.”

When watching the Panthers play, it doesn’t take long to realize it’s a group that has been playing together for a long time. 

From the communication on defense, to the way the ball moves up the court offensively in transition, the chemistry the Pioneer players have isn’t something that can be created overnight. It’s been a big part of its success. 

“I’ve played with most of these guys my whole life,” Brayden Thayer said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way with any other people. We know each other like the back of our hand. We know where we’re at and we’re excited to go play.”

With the season coming to a close on Saturday, seniors like Redeker are just trying to make the most of every moment leading up to the biggest game of their lives. 

“I’m enjoying every practice like this,” Redeker said. “Just trying to have fun with the fellas and make as many memories as possible this last season. It inspired all of us to work harder. You want to be on those bigger stages. That’s what you look forward to.”

Reaching the championship game hasn’t come without trials throughout the years. Pioneer has improved its finish in the state tournament each year, with this group of seniors reaching the Round of 16 in 2022, the Round of 8 in 2023 and the semifinals last winter. 

Now competing in a championship game, they look to close out their Panther careers on the highest of notes. 

“It’s still setting in but I’m ready,” McClelland said. “I’m excited to be able to play for a state championship. I dreamed about this but never thought about it actually happening until now.”

This Pioneer group has the pressure of completing an unbeaten season, something that hasn’t been done in program history since 1997. The Panthers have been taking things one game at a time all season, not trying to look too far ahead or put too much pressure on themselves. 

“It’s a lot of fun,” McClelland said. “We’ve been playing together for a long time. You don’t think about it that much. You just take it one game at a time. Then at the end of the season, to look back at 26-0 would be pretty nice. We just have to play the same way we have been. Defense, rebound and we’ll score at some point. We just have to hold them to what we can hold them to.”

What would completing an undefeated season mean to the Pioneer seniors? 

“It would be amazing,” Werner said. “It would be awesome to get this done. Knowing we’re one game away I hope we get it done. Everyone has to focus mentally and know it’s going to be a challenge. They’re going to be a good team. You can’t blow everyone out so we just have to take it play by play.”