by Bea Peterson
“Last year when the teams did a fundraiser,” said Girls Basketball Coach Eamonn DeGraaf, “we raised $300. This year we hoped to raise $1,000. It shows what can happen when we all work together.” And that is what they did. [private]The girls and boys JV and Varsity basketball team players took 100 foul shots each. People pledged anywhere from ten cents to one dollar per successful shot. “Some people pledged even more,” said DeGraaf. “Others just gave a donation.” Whether they pledged or contributed, some of them got quite a surprise when the totals were in. Andrew Hoag made 92 out of 100 shots. Chelsea Stevens made 90 out of 100. Following not far behind them were Frankie Pearson, Carson Williams, Noah LaBarge and Evan Phillips. High shooters all received gift certificates from Subway. Hanna Lilac raised the most money, bringing in over $800. Some of that money was contributed in memory of her granddad and faithful school sports fan, Ersel Hickey.
“We started the week before sectionals,” said DeGraaf. The players sought pledges from family, friends, co-workers and the school staff. “It’s taken us this long to collect all the pledges. The goal was to have each player get a minimum of three people to pledge.” No doubt the players exceeded that figure. “We are so impressed with how generous the community is,” he added.
The JV teams each held an extra practice at the end of the season for the foul shoot. The Girls Varsity team met on a Sunday afternoon, followed by the Boys Varsity team. In each grouping players paired up to take ten shots at a time, then rotated.
The Boys Varsity team had a successful season and the Girls Varsity team was third in the WASAREN league with a 14-7 season.
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