Throughout the week, Key Club has promoted the annual Basketball Jam. All profits from this event will go towards UNICEF’s Eliminate Project, a program dedicated to eradicating maternal/neonatal tetanus, a deadly disease that affects thousands of infants and their mothers every year.
As a student service organization, Key Club raises money for this project every year by assembling a basketball jam. Students look forward to this activity every year, and know that when they purchase their ticket, the money is being donated to charity. Chanting and cheering on their class is a one-time-a-year experience, and the Jaguars take advantage of it.
The first game was the freshmen vs. the sophomores. The first 5 minutes had everyone at the edge of their seat, as they waited for someone to make a shot, get close to the hoop and then get blocked. The freshmen team, consisting of only 6 players, gave it their all to beat the sophomores. Right when the freshmen were only down 1, the sophomores were already warmed up and started on a roll of 3 pointers. The team coordinated each play: rebound, assist, shoot, repeat. By the last 5 minutes, the score was 27 for the sophomores and 13 for the freshmen, concluding the first game.
Then, the Kit Kats made their exquisite entrance. The gymnasium was engrossed in the pop-it-lock-it routine. Perfect transition to the next game, the juniors vs. the seniors.
The game started neck to neck. Every time the ball would be on the juniors’ side, they’d score, and vice versa. It continued to captivate the crowd, keeping them at the edge of their seats, right until the second quarter when the seniors finally claimed their throne. The crowd knew it was over when one player from the seniors’ team, made a half court shot, giving them a double digit lead. The juniors had the game at the tip of their fingers, and let it slip away half way through.
The last game of the night were the two winners: sophomores vs seniors. No matter how coordinated the sophomores were, the seniors took the win point after point. Their height, skill and intimidation dominated the court. After every shot, the crowd could see the hope for the sophomores getting further and further away. This continued through the end of the game, and the seniors won again. Back to back champions, the seniors took the trophy and pride home tonight.
