The season starts off on an uncertain foot. With two games last week the Pirates began finding their footing and evidently the boys are a tad bit quicker at it this year. The two games held last week were both home games, one versus Mannford, and the other versus Kiefer. While the ladies lost both games the boys won against Mannford. I have spoken briefly to some of the players and the general consensus is not necessarily positive. They are still eager to win, but it doesn’t seem as rewarding as years past . Where the boys were outwardly positive and hopeful about the football season, even in the face of defeat, they seem to have lost all interest in basketball. Supposedly a select few players have maintained their eagerness for the sport.
The year has just begun and while early scores aren’t promising that does not mean much. Student spirit has also been suffering lately, this problem not exclusive to the players. The high school's student body has been reprimanded for their lack of spirit. At the beginning of the year, students were excited to resume their usual Friday night activities spent under the lights, but as we have moved through the year enthusiasm has dwindled. Eventually students were dragging their feet on the way to early morning pep rallies and playing on their phones. I entirely sympathize with them, it is easy to get caught up in your own life. Many students balance a combination of things such as Central Tech, concurrent classes, regular school, and jobs. Trying to be excited at 10 a.m. is not exactly thrilling, so it is understandable that students are disinterested. Last Friday, following a less than successful pep rally, the student body received an email from our principal, detailing the disappointment in our behavior, where we were also told that all future assemblies have been postponed until students can show their unity and spirit.
I cannot help but think that student spirit would increase though, if the player’s seemed more excited, we would too. It is a cyclical pattern. The players need support to have spirit, and for the students to have spirit they need to feel like they are actually supporting something. I am unsure where the solution lies in all of this, but my point nonetheless is that the basketball season has just started, let us not give up now.