Staff Defeats Students

Post date: Feb 04, 2016 3:29:54 PM

Cody Cline and Kiern Ton, staff

Showing some friendly competition, the people of Sturgis Brown High School divide into teams every year to shoot hoops, raise money and have fun. The Annual Student vs. Staff Basketball Game took place on Jan. 25, with instructor Tyler Murphy officiating the event from the scoreboard table.

The humorous competition, a fundraiser put on by Sturgis’s Close Up group, helped to raise money for the Washington, D.C., and New York City trips.

Highlights of the night included live audience participation, insightful and witty commentary from Murphy, unorthodox opportunities to gain points and shenanigans among players themselves. The traditional rules of basketball were almost completely abandoned in exchange for some fun, imaginary rules, such as performing tricks in exchange for points, which increased stakes and created greater competition between players.

Working to uphold the sense of competition, the staff team did not drop the ball when it came to action. Engaging in banter with their opponents, working as effective teams and performing their own share of fun tricks and dances, staff and students kept the audience entertained throughout the night. Instructor Tim McCann, for example, did a little jig before shooting free throws in order to gain an extra point for his team.

After the laughter and horseplay subsided, the score tallied 54 to 45 in the staff’s favor.

The fundraiser earned “just short of $300,” according to adviser Stephanie Kaufman, the event organizer.

According to Kaufman, there will be another fundraiser, the 50/50 raffle, on Feb. 5.

Not only did this event raise money for the Close-Up group, but it provided a fun, energetic atmosphere for students, staff and parents to enjoy.