The annual Students vs. Staff basketball game took place on Thursday, February 29 at 4 pm. Students, family, and faculty alike attended to support their peers taking part in the game. This event had an entrance fee of $5, and tickets were sold at lunches during the week and at the door. Free t-shirts for the game were given out at the door and audience members who were seniors could enter a raffle to win a free prom ticket. There was also a halftime half-court shot for a free prom ticket. 

The event consisted of two distinct teams: the student team, consisting of boys and girls basketball players and various students, and the teacher team, consisting of JPS faculty. The teams played four eight-minute quarters against each other. Both of these teams worked together and diligently towards their end goal, winning.

In the first quarter, the student team quickly took the lead, scoring the first three points within a minute. The student team then maintained their winning streak throughout the entirety of the first quarter. The student team worked hard to defend their score against the faculty team, who were working hard to overtake them. The final score in the quarter was 17:11.

“It was really enjoyable seeing how much fun both students and staff had during the game,” said Mr. Weber, coach of the girls’ basketball and volleyball teams and boys’ volleyball. “The Student vs. Faculty game is something I think a lot of people look forward to at JPS. As a teacher, it also felt good to get the win for the third year in a row.” 

In the second quarter, the student team was quickly undermined and the faculty climbed the ranks. The faculty team scored an impressive total of 26 points in the second quarter, giving them a big advantage, which they maintained for the rest of the game. The students worked very hard to regain the top spot but were unable to. The final score of the quarter was 26 to 37.

At halftime, the organizers hosted several ways to get the crowd involved in the event. First, they hosted a half-court shot contest for a free prom ticket. Dozens of seniors lined up for a chance to win a free prom ticket. Only one lucky student was successful, Derric Louis. In addition, seniors could enter a raffle before the event’s start to have another shot at winning a free prom ticket. Senior Suyesha Banerjee won a free prom ticket for later this year.

In the third quarter, the teachers were quick to defend their winning position. They scored an additional 16 points, while the students only scored 11 points. The students attempted to gain an advantage over the faculty, but could not for the rest of the game. The students earned themselves a few free throws, which they certainly took advantage of, gaining a few points for their side. Unfortunately, this effort did not prove to be effective in the long run. The final score for the third quarter was 38 to 53.

In the fourth and final quarter, the faculty maintained their winning streak for these games. In the past three years, the faculty has come out on top. They did not disappoint this time, either. The students made a valiant effort to try and take them off the throne, but, overall, lost to the faculty. All of the students and the teachers put their best foot forward in this game and made an entertaining show for the energetic audience. The final score for the game was 52 to 60. 

“It was so great to see everyone getting hyped up and never backing down,” said sophomore Sumayya Shaik. “But as hoopers, we won’t accept the defeat and we will come back even tougher for next year.”

Overall, the Students vs. Staff basketball game was a success, raising money and providing a great experience for students and faculty alike.