What happens when a teacher or staff member misses a shot at the Minot Forest Elementary School's staff versus student basketball game?

"Womp, womp, wooooomp" goes a chorus of clarinets and trumpets from the Minot Forest school band.

And what happens when the student players sitting on the bench start to get antsy towards the end of third period?

They break out in the middle of the court and start line dancing to the popular folk song "Cotton Eye Joe." What else would they do?

The staff and students got their game on, both the athletic kind and the playground kind, for the students-versus-staff basketball game and fundraiser at the Wareham Middle School gym on May 11.

The fundraiser, which brought in around $350 through the sale of event tickets, "Minot Forest School" wristbands, and raffle tickets, was held to support the publication of the 5th grade yearbook, said event-coordinator Renee Fernandes, the computer technology teacher and 5th grade yearbook advisor at Minot Forest.

"I'd like to give the kids a yearbook, but I don't want them to pay for it," said Fernandes. "Some kids are unable to afford it, so I don’t want to see that happen. I don't want to see anyone not get one."

The Minot Forest teachers and staff played four, ten-minute quarters against a total of 18 fifth-grade students. The students were selected to play based on whether they have a good standing and good grades in school, Fernandes said.

Some classes had many students who wanted to participate, and a drawing was held in those classes in order to choose the players, Fernandes said.

The staff, wearing black "Staff vs. Students" T-shirts while the students wore white, came on to the court with rusty skills, but nevertheless ready to play some basketball.

"I'm excited to just go out and have some fun with the kids," said Physical Education Teacher Sam Chouinard before the game, adding with a laugh, "and hopefully destroy them."

Sadly, the teachers' and staffs' hopes were the only things that got destroyed, as the students dribbled the ball through and around their opponents' legs and sank shots to win the game with a final score of 52-48 points.

Referee James Andrews, who also referees for the Wareham JBA basketball league, and referee Jimmy Couto may have helped tip the scales for the students when they sneakily poked the ball out of the teachers' hands.

They may also have helped when they took an occasional shot on basket for the students, or threw a staff member off her game by calling her a "ball hog" for refusing to pass the ball.

The referees could hardly be blamed for the teachers' and staffers' loss, however, as some of them simply did not bring enough motivation to the court.

Fifth grade teacher Jeff Gately laid down and tried to take a nap on the court floor as the second quarter trailed down to its final minutes.

"I was tired," he unabashedly answered when asked about his performance.

It was all in fun, however, as the staff and students sought an evening of enjoyment with students they usually only see in the classroom.

"I think it's a good idea for the kids to interact with the teachers rather than just being in school," said Mark Silva, whose daughter Makenna Tavares-Platt played in the game.

Makenna agreed.

"I like having fun with my friends, and it's fun playing against the teachers," she said, with friend Samantha Medeiros adding: "It's fun beating them. ... It's fun beating people, especially teachers."

A raffle was held at the end of the game with gift cards and prizes donated by local restaurants and businesses.

Some of the teachers and staff recalled playing in a staff-versus-students game some years ago, but Fernandes said Friday's game was the first one she coordinated.

"I'm so excited. … I think we had a great turnout. It was more than expected," said Fernandes after the game, adding that she hoped the game might be the start of a tradition. "I'd like to have a yearly one!"