Ladies and Gentlemen! It’s that time of year once again. As the months have flown by and November has come and gone, the month of December is finally here! This, of course, has a different meaning to nearly every person. To some, it means time for the frantic buying of gifts, the installation of Christmas lights, the falling of snow, the shoveling of driveways, the driving on slippery roads, and who could forget the Holiday cheer!
However, there is one special activity that the month of December brings which has a special meaning to High School sports fans. An activity that brings people together like no other sport with an atmosphere that can send shivers down the spine.
The floors have been waxed and cleaned to perfection and the backboards will sparkle as the lights shine through the glass. The Quest Center will once again be packed on snowy, cold nights and fans will run through the doors seeking the warmth of the gymnasium air only to be greeted by the smell of freshly popped corn. Music will fill the air and the public address announcer will offer his calming voice as he greets fans who have come from miles around to be under one roof for the evening. Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen! Can you feel it? Smiles will abound, laughter and talking will be muffled in the background, yelling and screaming, and the smell of popcorn, hot dogs, pizza, and the humid air from the perspiring players all mixed into one, yes! Do you smell it? Can you feel it yet?
Well, my friends… It’s here! High School Basketball!
Well, if the description didn’t take you back to maybe one special night or season in your life when you were able to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of a high school basketball game either as a player, coach, fan, or parent, you are in luck because another season is about to begin!
The 2011-12 Grand Rapids Christian boy’s and girl’s basketball teams have been formed and daily practices have ensued, the itch to play a real game is felt by both players and coaches. The teams are primed and Head Coaches Michael Spicer (boys) and Tom Buteyn (girls) have their teams amped as they look to start the season off on the right foot.
Coach Buteyn will rely on 5 Seniors as his team begins the season tomorrow night as they travel to Unity Christian to battle the Saders in a 7 PM Christian school showdown. The head coach instills in his players the importance of effort, passion, and selfless attitudes to create a true hard working team. Look for this year’s team to try to push the tempo and use their speed and ball skills to create easy opportunities as they try to make up for their lack of size.
After traveling to Unity, the Varsity girls will play their first game in the comforts of the Quest Center next Tuesday as they face Catholic Central at 7pm.
The boy’s Head Coach Michael Spicer finds himself in a unique position as his team hits the road for the first 5 games of 2011-12 season. In fact, the Eagles will not even play a home game in the month of December, sorry fans; you are going to have to wait until next year. The Eagles travel to South Christian to face the Sailors on December 9, then to Rockford to face the Rams on the 13th, a conference match up with at the Red Arrows of Lowell, and finally ending the road trip with the Cornerstone tournament on the 27th and 29th. Five games before finally setting foot on their own home court January 6 against Northview. Needless to say, Coach Spicer has his work cut out for him to start the season as he tries to lead the Eagles to a District Championship and beyond.
So for all you basketball nuts out there, it’s time to lace em’ up, grab your jacket, and hop in your car on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights and head on out to the Quest Center and other gyms around the area to support our girl’s and boy’s as they look to continue the tradition of Eagles Basketball.
