In the final game of the Middle School basketball season, RCMS boys beat Langston Hughes by one point, making the final score 39-38.
The girls lost their game on April 29 at Langston Hughes middle school in the first game of the night.
The season started with tryouts. Mr. Riley Barrows, after-school specialist, had a competition to see who would play the other middle schools for basketball.
He said, “So we had a tournament to determine who would play and they would stay after school on Mondays to practice.”
Over the course of the season, The basketball teams played against Liberty, Stone, Langston Hughes, and Rocky Run middle school.
Boys Game
The boys won all four of their games this season, and won their last game by one point.
Beth Kwon, seventh-grader, on the Champions team, was very stressed when the boys were tied.
She said, “The boys were tied and there were a few minutes left; everyone’s heart was racing.”
Matthew Chen, seventh-grader on the Dream team, was ecstatic that Rachel Carson won.
He said, “I felt surprised because people were hyping the Langston team because they were supposed to be super good.”
Beth saw some strategy coming from Langston Hughes.
She said, “Most of Langston did layups for the boys game.”
These middle school games made kids more confident and made them want to get better.
Matthew said, “Playing basketball inspired me to be better because other people were better than me.”
GIRLS GAME
The girls won three out of the four games that they played, which means that the boys did not lose a single game but the girls lost one game.
The girls team lost against Langston Hughes but they won against Liberty, Stone, and Rocky Run.
Mr. Barrows and Tahlia Mohr, 13, on the Champions team, both agree that the game against Langston Hughes was not the best game they played.
Tahlia said, “I was sad because we lost, and I did not play that well.”
Mr. Barrows said, “We did not play the best.”
Beth saw plays happening in the game for the girls team.
She said, “RCMS girls played an okay defense.”
There also were a lot of fouls during the game.
Tahlia said, “A girl jumped on top of me.”
Final Thoughts From the Coach
These games were helpful for practice because some of the basketball players are going out for their high school teams.
Mr. Barrows said, “I think this is a great experience for middle school students, especially practicing for the high school basketball team.”
Mr. Barrows has loved seeing the teams evolve this season — “watching the team come together and playing as one and winning.”