The gym roared to life as sneakers squeaked across the polished floor and the ball snapped through the net, setting the stage for a showdown where teachers and seniors battled not just for bragging rights, but to prove who truly owned the court. This was the annual staff versus students basketball game, hosted on March 30th. The teachers towered over the students, forcing each of them to give it their all. However, the students in the end managed to squeeze out a win, closing this electrifying game out with the score of 44-42. The game was a testament to the fact that the staff’s abilities on the court remained remarkably sharp, pushing the seniors to earn every point in a hard fought battle.
“They kind of underestimate me because you do realize teachers, they just teach,” Mr. Kevlon, a school aide at FLHS explained. “I would say they didn’t underestimate us. They just knew that we weren’t consistent basketball players.”
To kick off the start of the event, a group of students took to the center of the gym to perform a choreographed dance routine. Music blasted through the gym as students and teachers alike got pumped up, ready to prove themselves through their skills on the court.
“It was good,” coach of the students, freshman Omari Hanson commented. “Everyone was loud. They were entertained by the game.”
Players Richard Richmond and Solomon Otu-Anakwa Jr, two players from the Varsity Basketball team continued to carry the team through the match. Even when faced with tough opponents almost triple their age, they put intention behind every shot, methodically tearing down their opponents.
“Richard and Solomon – cookin’ them grown men,” Hanson joked.
In between the quarters, those who ween’t seniors were allowed to participate in activities like relay races, three legged races, and other carnival type games. These moments gave the underclassmen a chance to participate in the competitive spirit that carried over from the intense match.
“The crowd was in tune to it,” Richmond said. “So the more the crowd got into it, the more we got into it. We were really just trying to show out there and beat the teachers.”
During one of the challenges in between quarters, students Zaire Pinnock and Jonathan Walker, hit a half court shot, and a three pointer back to back, respectively. The success of these shots as well as the showcase of skill immediately brought up the atmosphere, keeping the energy high.
“I said that’s green as soon as he [Zaire] shot it from the half line,” Richmond recalled. “I knew that it was green because he shoots all the time, puts all that work in.”
Being met with extremely positive reactions, it seems like events like this should occur again in the future. Not only are students allowed to bond with each other and teachers, it allows students to take a break and wind down from their tiring academic journey.
“This is a community at the end of the day,” Mr. Kevlon said. “So it’s good to see that people are coming together to work together to build something so that everyone can connect and get to understand each other better.”
