Students and teachers face off in annual spirit week basketball game
Cisco Monteiro flies as he reaches for a layup. Photos by Mari Huglin
Chef Breda, Johnny Tompkins and Savannah Varden get ready to start the first game. 
Johnny Tompkins and Malikhi Tavares are ready for the jump ball. 
Star Lopez takes the ball down the court. 
Johnny Tompkins takes a break from reffing to pet Lexi during the game.
Dr. Roth stands in the middle of the key waiting for a rebound. 
Malikhi Tavares goes up for a jump shot. 
Chanche Andrews and Robbie Ome wait before a play begins. 
Caleb Carter goes up for a layup as Chanche Andrews blocks him. 
Vikings filled the gymnasium as students and staff also reffed the game. 
Some students and staff joined in the fun by cheering in the cheer and dance squad. 
Lexi the dog was even at the game to support!
Savannah Varden, Jeremiah Lawson, Robbie Ome and Chanche Andrews wait for a rebound. 
The grey team smiles in victory. 
The grey team smiles as the are given their championship shirts.
Cisco Monteiro flies as he reaches for a layup. Photos by Mari Huglin
Chef Breda, Johnny Tompkins and Savannah Varden get ready to start the first game.
Johnny Tompkins and Malikhi Tavares are ready for the jump ball.
Star Lopez takes the ball down the court.
Johnny Tompkins takes a break from reffing to pet Lexi during the game.
Dr. Roth stands in the middle of the key waiting for a rebound.
Malikhi Tavares goes up for a jump shot.
Chanche Andrews and Robbie Ome wait before a play begins.
Caleb Carter goes up for a layup as Chanche Andrews blocks him.
Vikings filled the gymnasium as students and staff also reffed the game.
Some students and staff joined in the fun by cheering in the cheer and dance squad.
Lexi the dog was even at the game to support!
Savannah Varden, Jeremiah Lawson, Robbie Ome and Chanche Andrews wait for a rebound.
The grey team smiles in victory.
The grey team smiles as the are given their championship shirts.
Students and teachers joined together to play a basketball game culminating spring spirit week at Wareham High School on Friday, March 20.
To celebrate the boys varsity basketball state championship and to break up the monotony of March, Michelle Medina wanted to continue this annual tradition.
She has been the organizer for three years, but the tradition has been going on for five. She said it has always gone well and everyone loves participating in it, so she continues to host it.
“Adding something fun into the mix of everyday learning helps keep kids motivated and get them excited,” Medina said.
Medina teaches high school math and said anyone can sign up to play in the tournament. Students and staff are placed on four different mixed teams and play tournament style until the best team wins.
Spirit week led up to the Friday game with students and staff dressing up to celebrate everyday. Spirit days included class color day, twin day and even a day where students dressed like teachers and teachers dressed like students.
She said her favorite part is seeing how excited all the students get over their teachers participating especially when they score or fall down.
“Anybody that wants to get involved is able to get involved in everybody rallies behind everybody,” she said.
Principal Scott Palladino said he loves seeing the whole school come together.
“I like it because it's not like students against faculty, it's students with faculty so it's very inclusive,” Palladino said.
He said he enjoys that everyone can participate as a fan, cheerleader, referee or player.
The four teams played 10 minute games against each other with the grey team winning the championship.
Senior student body president Savannah Varden played on the grey team after being asked to participate by some of the teachers.
She explained that spirit week was to celebrate the culmination of winter sports, especially the basketball team this year.
“It's kind of like a wrap up to the basketball season because our basketball sports are really good,” Varden said.
Varden said that the event brings the whole school together and honors their hard work.
Star Lopes is a senior cheerleader who also played on the grey team. She was also asked to participate but said she just wanted to play basketball.
“[The game ] really celebrates who we are as a team— as a sports team and appreciating the girls and the boys basketball team both making playoffs and one winning the state championship,” Varden said.
