Without fail, the Winter Sports Rally is the most anticipated rally of the year for one reason only: the high-stakes Student vs. Teacher basketball game.
It started chaotically with Coach Hendren breaking the backboard—in warmups. Before the students even entered the gym, shattered glass covered the floor, forcing the entire game to be moved to half court. From that moment on, the energy in the building never dropped. The teachers came in confident with two consecutive wins under their belt, while the students brought hype and energy, entering ready to run.
The first half was scrappy on both ends. Offense came slowly, but the students struck first with a bucket from Drake Weller. Logan McPartland followed it up with a clean three‑pointer, giving the student section something to erupt over.
At halftime, the students trailed just 5–6, keeping the game well within reach. Our song team performed a halftime show set to Tate McRae’s “just keep watching,” which only hyped up the crowd more.
The second half brought more momentum and more drama. Brody Schumaker connected on a jumper inside the paint, while Tommy Volz slashed through the lane repeatedly, picking up multiple layups for the students. McPartland skillfully completed up a reverse layup that made the bleachers go crazy. Still, the teachers only responded back stronger, including strong defensive stands from athletic director Ms. Garrett, who seemed to shut down every lane the students tried to open.
With just under five minutes remaining and the students trailing 13–9, the urgency kicked in. Griffin buried a huge shot to bring the score to 18–19 with only 20 seconds left, setting the stage for a nail‑biter.
After a teacher timeout with 5.8 seconds remaining, Volz took the potential game‑winner from the top of the key. The shot missed, the clock neared zero, and chaos erupted as players scrambled, and Mr. Nana Gbewonyo and student coach Brayden Kyman confronted the refs mid‑court. In the final scramble, Volz stole the ball and appeared to be fouled on shot, but time had already expired.
Unfortunately, even with the outstanding student performance, teachers win. Teach coach Ms. Seyram Bell lifted the trophy triumphantly, defending her reign with a three‑peat victory.
Despite the heartbreak, the game showcased our SM school spirit at its best. And although the teachers walked away with another trophy, the students walked away with a performance no one will forget anytime soon.
