The staff vs. seniors basketball game took place Friday, Feb. 5, with the seniors squeaking out a victory 33-31.

The game is an annual tradition at KHS, and it is not just a game for fun.

The game is highly competitive and can lead to hurt egos, lack of confidence, and potential tears.

The teams were made up of seniors who do not participate in a winter sport and volunteering staff members.

Pre-game

On the day of the big game, emotions were flying high.

The seniors were prepared to take the win.

Senior Liam Grathoff, former basketball player, was confident that his team would win.

“The staff has a solid starting five, but we can match up well,” Grathoff said. “We have speed and endurance.”

Grathoff is no rookie to the game.

“I’m confident because I am the best player in the world,” Grathoff said.

The teachers had a different goal in mind for the game.

Mr. Matt Gildner, girls’ basketball coach, was looking forward to being able to breathe after the game.

Mr. Scott Lints, physical education teacher, was hoping that he and his teammates would be able to survive the game and compete with the seniors.

After hearing the comment that Grathoff made about being the best player in the world, Lints had a witty comeback.

“If Liam was the best player in the world, he would not be playing at Kearsley against the staff,” he said.

Lints has overcome several surgeries in the past school year in his recovery from cancer that caused him to lose some muscle.

“I can’t shoot like I used to, but I’m an athlete, so I will find a way to score,” Lints said.

Gildner is confident that his team has more brains than the seniors, but he still fears the injuries that could come with the game.

“I hope that my back is intact after the game,” Gildner said.

Senior Noah Jankowski played basketball in middle school and was looking forward to using his talents in the big game.

“I want to compete, these are some of my favorite teachers, but I still want to win,” Jankowski said.

The Game

The seniors won the game.

The game was a challenge for the seniors to pull off, but they still had confidence that they would win.

Senior Diane Bond coached the seniors. She was ecstatic that her team won.

“I knew that they could pull off the win,” Bond said. “They worked hard, and we had a lot of talent on the team.”

In the last few seconds of the game, the seniors were up 33-30 with Lints on the foul line. He made his first free throw but missed his second.

After a scramble for the rebound, the staff got a shot off.

Mr. Paul Gaudard, athletics director, received the ball from his teammate and pulled up for a jumper right behind the 3-point line. Making this shot would have ensured a win for the staff.

But the ball failed to hit the rim and, instead, ricocheted off the side of the backboard.

Upon asking Gaudard about the shot, he did not have much to say except that it was a little shot to his confidence.

Gaudard laughed off the shot, saying it gives him something to look back on and laugh about.

For senior Tyler Phipps, playing against the staff made him proud of his team.

In addition, he said he was surprised how well the staff competed.

“I dished assists all game,” Phipps said. “And even though I didn’t score, I was the only player to bleed, so I deserve MVP.”