State Senator Cam Ward presents Verbena basketball coach Jonathan Shedd with a grant to help improve the school's gym.

Verbena High School’s basketball team received a much needed facilities upgrade Monday through a grant from some friends in Montgomery.

The grant, which totaled around $5,500, will help continue the renovations to the school’s gymnasium. The money will be used to help purchase a new scorer’s table, padded seats for the bench and new backboard pads.

These are the latest in a series of gym renovations at Verbena. Earlier in the year, the school installed new lights and seats, as well as a new floor.

“We’re really trying to make [the gym] something the kids and the community can be proud of,” said Jonathan Shedd, boys and girls basketball head coach. “[The gym renovation] helps out with school spirit.”

Shedd hopes that the improvements to the gym will help increase interest in the program. Verbena’s boys’ varsity dressed out only six players for the majority of the season.

“Winning is the biggest encourager, but when you need numbers, you need to show you’re putting time into the program. I think that’s what [renovating the gym] does,” he said.

State Sen. Cam Ward presented the check Monday to Shedd at the school. Ward said he felt communities like Verbena were often forgotten about on a larger government level.

“A lot of rural communities get neglected when it comes to projects, so they depend on legislators and senators to help them,” said Ward. “[Verbena High] does a super job, and I’m glad to help.”