Community Comes Together for a Night of Basketball and FUNdraising

Over 300 family, friends, students, and faculty filled the Scotts Valley Middle School gymnasium on Friday night to support the SVMS student basketball teams as they challenged the faculty in a friendly game during the annual “Jam in January” fundraising event.

It was a night of fun, but make no mistake, there was some real basketball happening as students and administrators alike showed some serious athleticism. 

The first quarter matched the sixth-grade girls' team against the sixth-grade boys’ team, who are this season’s league champions. The second quarter paired the eighth-grade girls' team against school staff, and for the third quarter, the seventh-grade girls took on the seventh-grade boys. For the fourth quarter, the eighth-grade boys played the staff of teachers. Then, in a final match up, the eighth-grade boys took on the eighth-grade girls.   

“It was really fun watching the teachers play the students,” said Daron Pisciotta, whose son Nathan plays on the seventh-grade basketball team.   

Scotts Valley High School athletic director Louie Walters and dads Steve Spence and Marc Collishaw volunteered as referees for the games.   

It was enjoyable to see the students and teachers have a good time together. The students are used to only seeing their teachers teach in the classroom, so to see them out of their element playing a friendly game of basketball is a great thing for our schools and community.

The event didn’t come together on its own. Much of the work in bringing it together was done by a group of about 35 middle school kids, known as the Student Activities Group. These students decorated the gym, sold raffle tickets, organized the raffle, monitored the doors and announced the games. Raffle prizes were donated by local clothing store, Cali Style. 

Volunteers from Gateway Bible Church Congregation offered their services by collecting entrance fees and helping at the food and clothing concessions. 

“We want to help out at these events so parents can watch their kids instead of working the event. It’s our way of giving to the school and community,” said Jeff Lane, worship pastor at Gateway Bible Church.   

Claire Hartman and Eliza Barton, both sixth-grade basketball players, had their table of home-baked cookies for sale in front of the gymnasium. In this case, it was not to raise money for the school, it was for another great cause–Cookies for Kids Cancer. Many parents donated their baked goods to be sold at the sale with all proceeds going to help fight pediatric cancer. 

Way to go girls for being “good cookies” and making a difference. 

To read more from Kelly Utic, visit www.joy4sports.com.