From January 12th to the 23rd, Mendham High School staged its annual student basketball tournament. A fun way to escape the post-winter break blues, the tournament drew students into the gym to watch their peers compete. This inclusive event was open to all grade levels, allowing anyone, from freshmen to seniors, to participate. The tournament included 18 teams of seven players, and each day, two 10-minute games were played. Winners of each game advanced to the next round. The final game transpired between the winners of the student tournament and select members of the faculty. Sophomore team “Chicken in a tree” won the student tournament for the second year in a row, beating out four other teams. The sophomores brought lots of excitement to their final game by frequently subbing in students and going head-to-head with the teachers. Ultimately, the faculty beat the sophomores in a lively game that had the whole gym laughing.
Many school events lack turnout and overall zeal from the student body. This year, the student basketball tournament was the complete opposite. For two weeks, students from all grades filed into the gym to watch their friends and classmates play a quick game of basketball. For forty minutes, the gym transformed into a lively hub of laughter, cheering, and music. Grace, a senior who played for team “Josh Giddey’s Friends”, described the atmosphere of the gym as being “really crowded and loud, but I feel like once you started playing, you didn’t really hear anyone. It was kind of just like, you were there to have a good time.” In terms of advice for future players, Grace said, “Just try your hardest. And like, just have fun with it because it’s not really that deep.” Alternatively, if a student doesn’t want to play, observing from the bleachers is just as exciting. Watching a fun game while chatting with friends is a great way to decompress after class and reset before the rest of the day. If you didn’t watch the tournament this year, you should definitely check it out next year.
The student basketball tournament has become a highly anticipated event in Mendham High School. However, lots of work and preparation happen behind the scenes to ensure a smooth event. One of the key organizers of this tournament was Ajani Bowrin, the senior class treasurer. When asked why the senior class wanted to organize the tournament this year, he commented that it was “a good opportunity to get some money for our class and make our prom tickets cheaper.” Ajani also shared, “We were responsible for setting up the Google forms, setting up the brackets, and ensuring that everyone got their payments in before the game.” The organizers faced some hurdles when creating the tournament. Eighteen teams, instead of the original eight, signed up. In reaction to the enthusiastic response, Ajani reflected, “We were a little bit surprised and shocked…and we didn’t really know what to do, but…for a lot of people, it’s the only opportunity to get to play in front of…a real crowd. So we didn’t want to take that away from anyone.” So, the organizers simply adapted the tournament to fit a larger bracket. As a result, the tournament was extended to two weeks instead of one. In the future, the extended version of the tournament will most likely continue, as more players means more money for the class hosting the fundraiser.
In the end, the hard work paid off. The tournament raised $1,030, all of which will lessen the cost of prom tickets.
Looking ahead, Mendham’s student body can expect more competitions, including a kickball tournament as the weather warms up. The senior class is also gearing up for the annual Mr. Mendham “beauty pageant” on April 16. Both events will provide opportunities for students to get involved with the school community and celebrate the end of the school year.
