MOOSEHEART – Win, lose or draw, there were going to be wide smiles Tuesday night from Akim Nyang, Makur Puou and Mangisto Deng.

The South Sudanese transfers’ long-awaited home debut with the Mooseheart boys basketball program finally arrived as the Red Ramblers faced Leland-Earlville in nonconference play. The trio, now juniors, had to sit out last season to fulfill IHSA eligibility requirements.

“We’ve been waiting for a long time so now we’re ready and we’re very excited to play and to represent our school, Mooseheart,” Puou said after the Ramblers routed the Panthers, 60-45.