by Hannah S. and Teyton M.

10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… 0.
A cheer erupts as the buzzer sounds for the last time after a heated game of classic basketball. Well, it’s classic in the sense of high emotions and fiery shots at the rim in the Girls’ Gym at Alamo Heights Junior School. Blue and gold flashed all around as the truth sank in:
Both Gold teams won Districts!!

“They wanted it, right? You know, I tell them I can’t want it for them,” said Coach Olivetti, the 8th-grade Gold coach. Coach Olivetti’s response made it clear that the 8th-grade Gold team desired victory and showed how they powered through the challenges that tried to stand in their way. Coach Olivetti spoke about the leadership displayed throughout the entire season. I listened as he described how the team grew during their winning streak and pushed through tough timeouts. He spoke about close games and how some players stepped up into the spotlight to shine. The effect of these players reinforced team camaraderie, and our Boys’ Gold team achieved the coveted 7-0 record and District title.

The 7th-grade team is almost an exact reflection of their 8th-grade role models, thanks to their perseverance and strong willpower during the toughest part of their basketball season.

According to Coach Hanna, the 7th-grade Gold team was a “good group of guys, and they played as a team.” Coach Hanna talked about how, when they shine, they strive to work together and shine as one.

“There weren’t many guys who thought they had to be better than the next guy,” said Coach Hanna. He told me that starting positions were fiercely contested because the boys all had the ambition to give 110% effort.

“It was a big team effort, and they were all so happy for each other’s success,” another key point Coach Hanna mentioned. They were supportive of one another and benevolent toward everyone on the team.

I can’t wait to see what these boys do next. I hope that this hard-earned title becomes an uplifting part of their journey in sports. I know they can only go up from here, and I’ll enjoy watching them grow and win next year.