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Sports Bring Students Together at Benton Harbor High School
By Jermerni Brown
March 10, 2026
Sports at Benton Harbor High School have brought a lot of excitement to students and staff this season. Basketball games and cheer performances have taken place throughout the year, giving students something to look forward to after school. Many students say the games help bring the school together and create a fun atmosphere.
Senior basketball player Miracle Green said the support from other students makes a big difference. "When people come to the games and cheer for us, it really motivates the team," Green said. "It makes us want to play even harder."
Other students agree that attending the games is a good way to show support for their classmates. Senior Kandis Moore said, "Going to the games with friends makes the experience more enjoyable. It's fun to watch everyone come together and support the team." She also said, "The energy in the gym is always great."
Coaches have also noticed the strong turnout at games this year. Coach Sterling said, "It's nice to see students supporting each other outside of the classroom."
As the sports season continues, many students say the games have helped create school spirit and brought the community closer together.
One Last Cheer: Seniors Reflect on the Final Basketball Game
By Camry Williams
March 12, 2026
The final basketball game of the season was more than just another game for the senior cheerleaders on the sidelines. It marked the last game they will stand together in their uniforms cheering for their team and representing their school at the gym filled with students, teachers, and families. The final night became an emotional moment for the squad that has spent years building memories together.
From the first chance to score to the final buzzer, the cheerleaders focused on bringing energy to the crowd and supporting the players on the court, but behind the smiles and routines, many seniors were realizing this would be their last time performing together during a basketball game.
“It felt really emotional knowing it was our last game,” senior cheerleader, Keaira Lewis, said. “We’ve worked so hard over the years, and being out there one last time with my team meant everything."
Throughout the game, the cheerleaders performed chants and cheers while the crowd cheered along. The atmosphere in the gym was loud and full of school spirit, making the night even more special for seniors.
Another senior cheerleader shared that the moment reminded her of how much the team had grown together. “We’ve been through so much together," she said, “Cheer isn’t just a team. It’s a family, and this game showed how close we really are."
Although the season has ended, the final game will remain a memory the seniors will carry with them long after graduation. It wasn’t just about cheering for one last time; it was about celebrating the friendship, dedication, and pride the team had built along the way.
The Final Buzzer: The Tigers Lose a Championship
By Jaiden Thompson
March 12, 2026
Niles High School defeated Benton Harbor 71-65 in the MHSAA Division 2, District 47 boys basketball championship on February 27, 2026, held at Berrien Springs. The Vikings came back from an early double-digit lead to secure the title. Niles (18-6) advanced to the regional semifinals, while Benton Harbor finished their season 20-4.
Although the Tigers did not win the game, they still had some amazing players making things happen on the court for them. Kesean Hobbs led Benton Harbor with 18 points, Damonee McBride had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Myron Rice scored 13, and Zameir Clayton added 11 points and 6 assists.
The Tigers started out hot, especially Rice, who scored the Tiger's first 10 points. Hobbs made a 3-pointer that put Benton Harbor up 13-4, but the Vikings were able to get back in the game by using their size as an advantage. Niles didn’t take its first lead until a basket by Olsen made it 58-57 in the second half of the game.
We asked Damonee McBride, how he felt knowing that they could have won that night. He responded with “I felt like we had it in the bag, we just let off the gas a little too much and let the game slip away from us.” Coach Sterling also had a few words, stating, “We picked the wrong time to get cold.”
As they got closer to the end of the game, Brayden Favors put Niles up 64-63 on two free throws. Damonee McBride missed two free throws, and Benton Harbor then had to start fouling intentionally. Olsen went to the line twice and made both each time, then he confirmed the win with a dunk in the final seconds, which made it to ESPN SportsCenter.
Cheerleaders
Boys Varsity Basketball Team
Girls Varsity Basketball Team
Boys JV Basketball Team
Boys Freshmen Basketball Team
Varsity Basketball Players
Toney Bennett
DeShawn Brister
De'Kharrie Chandler
Zameir Clayton
Rashun Cooper
KeSean Hobbs
Camren Hull
La'Trell Johnson
Messiah Lacy
Maleek Maben
Damonee McBride
Da'Corey McKinney
Myron Rice
Daryl Pulliam
Elliot Willford
Devin Williams
Bryana Alexander
Ta'mya Clinton
DeAria Evans
Faith Franklin
Miracle Green
Elisha Guidry
Keaira Lewis
Ke'Lasha Mays
Kandis Moore
Ruqayyah Muhammad
Jada Robinson
Ariae Thompson
Heartbreaking Loss
By My'Shion Davis, Donald Harrell, Jaiden Thompson, La’Trell Johnson, Toney Bennett, Rashun Cooper, Olivia Bell-Anderson, and Elijah Williams-Cooper
Friday, September 19, 2025, was a night full of energy and emotions as the Tigers returned to Filstrup Field for Senior Night.
Benton Harbor hosted Muskegon Catholic Central after losing to them last year by a score of 8-49.
This year, the Tigers put 26 points on the scoreboard with a new spread offense. Jaiden Thompson, playing his first year of varsity football at center, said, “Everybody understood their assignments, and we executed better.”
Four-year varsity football player Donald Harrell said, “It was a wonderful feeling, everyone was hyped and felt like this was the game we would win.” The Tigers were on a roll towards winning Senior Night, but they lacked defense in the end of the 4th quarter, and an onside kickoff caught the Tigers off guard.
Two-year varsity football player La’Trell Johnson replied to the lack of defense by saying, “I felt alright. We could’ve did better with plays and better defense.”
Even with the mistakes, the Tigers battled until the very last second, keeping the crowd on their feet. The final score was 26-27. Players and fans walked away proud, knowing they gave everything that night.
Senior Night ended with heartbreak, hugs, cheers, and support from the community, proving that Senior Night was more than just a scoreboard. It was about the teamwork and the memories that were created that night.
Senior Night
By Samyah Crenshaw, Camry Williams, Mariah Singh, Honesty Parnell, Jaquan Lee, and Mariyah Black
Senior Night, Friday, September 19, 2025 presented a special challenge for the cheer team on a special night, when the cheer team seniors were recognized for all their hard work and dedication.
Camry Williams, a senior who's been cheering since middle school, said “A hard thing about cheer is putting the differences aside and working with other females.” She also mentioned how she wants to do competitive cheer.
We asked other people on the cheer team like Keaira Lewis and Diamond McCalvin, both seniors, “Why would you want to be a cheerleader?” and Keaira said, "Because it brings me joy.” Diamond said, “Because it's fun and it helps me get out of my comfort zone.”
Diamond's response shows the challenges the cheer team could go through, yet it turns out to create fun experiences and memories for them. Keaira's response also shines a light on how an extracurricular activity can become a safe spot for you to express yourself freely and bring you happiness and joy!
We tried to branch out to many other teammates, so we decided to ask Nevaeh Williams “What makes cheer special and how long have you been cheering?” Nevaeh responded by saying, similar to Diamond, “Cheer brings me out of my shell and creates lots of opportunities.” All of the girls on the cheer team expressed to us how they were mostly feeling excited yet nervous before senior night.
Now interviewing them post-senior night, they all talked about how much fun they had, how this night created many memories for them, and how cheer has helped them. We believe their performance last Friday night showed exactly that! So, when we hear about how long these team members have been cheering, some for all four years of high school, it creates a better understanding on just how necessary and beneficial it was that our fellow seniors were recognized for their hard work, consistency, and overall courage they had to show, while sharing their school spirit.
Jamariana Christian
Captain Monteonna Duckett
Terrionna Cotton
Captain DeAria Evans
Varsity Volleyball Wins First Home Game
The Lady Tigers won three games to one against the Covert Bulldogs on Monday, September 8, 2025.
The varsity volleyball team had to play at Fair Plain Middle School, because the high school gym is being restored after the water damage to the floor.
There were several supportive family members and friends rocking the bleachers and singing fight songs for the first home game.
Jamariana Christian, a senior playing varsity for the first time, said, “The teamwork and coaching brought us together and supported our serves, sets, and digs.”
Tigers Lose Home Opener
By My’shion Davis
Benton Harbor Tigers lost Thursday night, August 28, 2025, against the Battle Creek Bearcats in a score of 0-52.
La’Trell Johnson, a senior playing wide receiver and cornerback said, “Our energy went well at the start of the game. We need to improve in our confidence. I learned that we need to keep fighting and not give up.”
Donald Harrell, a senior playing guard, said, “The team’s energy for the first quarter was better than last year’s. What I think needs to be improved on is the full-time effect of going hard the whole game. The whole team needs a lot more time working with each other and remembering their assignments.”
The Tigers were upset to learn just before the game that Ja'Byrion Broyles, a transfer student, was ineligible to play. The MHSAA officials notified the coaches moments before the game of the ineligible player. Other players were upset with the decision, and there was a scramble to fill his position at fullback.
Cheerleaders Return to Filstrup Field
By Keaira Lewis
After an extended renovation that had closed Filstrup Field for the 2024 football season, the Benton Harbor High School Cheerleaders were fired up for the first home game in over a year.
Coach Nicki, Earla Reynolds class of 1990, returns from a break in coaching to lead the varsity cheerleaders through the new school year. She plans on “restoring the roar” with cheerleading.
Camry Williams, a senior who has been cheering since 7th grade, said, “I feel like with a new coach we’re still learning to adapt to all the new rules, and within the team I also feel as if we’re still learning each other. Being around new people with new energy and new bonds feels like we gotta get more comfortable to cheer with each other.”
During the game, the Benton Harbor varsity cheer team decided to attempt to restore the bond between the two cheer teams, after not being able to play against each other for three years because of an altercation that had occurred following a basketball game in Battle Creek.
Lovi Douglas, a senior varsity cheerleader said, “I’m glad that we made peace this year, and I had fun cheering with them.”
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