After a long absence, a former Austin high school basketball player reacquainted himself with his old haunts this past season. And it was all he remembered.

Although he graduated from Austin High School in 1994, Ben Bushaw made his first return to Ove Berven in years when he came to town in hopes of defeating his hometown Packers Dec. 23.

That’s because Bushaw came as the head coach of St. Paul Simley’s boys basketball team. While his team came up short 69-68 in overtime, Bushaw was glad he could show his team the environment he grew up playing in.

He even fought off a virus and drove himself to the game from St. Paul, arriving 30 minutes before tip-off.

“I was a little taken back walking in there,” Bushaw said. “It was fun to see a full gym and it brought back some of my memories of playing. It was fun to see a lot of familiar faces were still there.”

Bushaw has coached Simley for eight years and he had his season end when his team lost the Packers again March 11 in Packer Gym by a score of 65-55. Still, Bushaw was happy to show his team what kind of place he grew up playing in.

Oftentimes at Simley, the student section is not a strong force in the crowd.

“My biggest joy in Austin was the atmosphere of the game. Smaller towns get more fans and they give big support,” Bushaw said. “We don’t always get that in the cities, so it was fun for my kids to see that.”

Before playing in Ove Berven in December, Bushaw, who also teaches math at Simley, told his squad that it would probably be the best environment they would play in all season and it didn’t disappoint.

After all, even though it was 15 years ago, Bushaw still remembers his debut on the Austin varsity team his junior season. Although he is a man of average height, he was asked to play center and take the opening tip against a 6-foot, 7-inch center.

“I got laughed at by my teammates, but I won that tip,” he said.

Bushaw also remembers his last game as a Packer.

“We were up 12 in the second half of the semifinals against Apple Valley and we lost a heartbreaker,” he recalls. “It’s funny how you remember that.”

Bushaw went on to play basketball and tennis at Austin Community College for two years before playing basketball and tennis at Winona State for a season. He wrapped up his basketball career at Concordia University, where he was voted team MVP. He was also selected to the All-State team his sophomore year at ACC.

After he student taught and coached ninth grade at Simley, the Athletic Director wanted Bushaw back. So he spent a year as the JV and assistant coach before taking over the helm in the 2000-2001 season.

Bushaw’s best season came in 2006-2007 when he led the Spartans to second place in Section 3AAA. Simley’s season ended with a loss to St. Thomas Academy, which won state that year.

The Cadets are just one of the tough teams that Bushaw must coach against annually in the Classic Suburban Conference.

Henry Sibley, which is ranked No. 2 in the state this season, Tartan, and Ritchfield are all on Simley’s conference schedule.

“It’s one of the top basketball conferences in the state,” Bushaw said. “It’s hard to face those top teams twice every year, but I do enjoy preparing for those top level teams.”

Bushaw was originally drawn to coaching for two reasons, his love of basketball and his desire to teach it to others.

“I couldn’t see myself not being involved in basketball,” he said.

“I just wanted to pass on my knowledge and teach high school kids the game.”

While coaching at the college level is in the back of his mind, Bushaw is satisfied at Simley for the time being.

And if he stays in Simley long enough, he’ll probably end up coaching against his hometown again as Austin and the Spartans are currently both in Section 1AAA.