Members of the Saratoga High staff and Redwood Middle School faculty participated in the second annual charity basketball game on March 19 at 7 p.m. The final score was 52-32, with the Saratoga High staff winning for the second time in a row. Around 300 to 400 people attended the event.
Last year, the proceeds of the charity event went to the Saratoga Sub-Acute Hospital. This year, the proceeds, which were close to $3,000, will benefit Redwood media arts teacher Manny Steffen’s hometown of Washington, Ill., a city that was hit by a tornado and devastated last November.
The overall sportsmanship between the two teams was friendly, but “there were a couple instances where teachers were upset about being fouled,” assistant principal Brian Safine said. However, by the end of the game, “there were no ill feelings between teachers.”
“It was fun watching the teachers get competitive with each other,” sophomore basketball player Erin Norris said. “There was time after the game to visit with your teachers, and it was a fun time to hang out with friends.”
Students enjoyed seeing some of their favorite teachers from both schools play against each other Norris said.
“There’s a pretty intense rivalry between some of the Redwood and Saratoga teachers,” senior Dharini Ramaswamy said. “Every time Mr. Sheehy hit a three [point basket], we would all go crazy.”
Teachers enjoyed playing against each other and raising money for a good cause at the same time, Sheehy said.
“It was great that so many people came to watch a bunch of ‘old guys’ run up and down the court,” Sheehy said.
Although the game was supposed to be for fun, there were some minor disagreements.
“We're all competitors and once the game gets going some of us have a tendency to get wrapped up in it,” Steffen said. “When it's over, we all shake hands and have nothing but respect and appreciation for each other.”
