Students take teachers to basketball school

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

Youngstown

Youth beat wisdom in the annual East High School senior-faculty basketball game.

The younger team led throughout the game with the final score 40-39. That ends the faculty’s winning streak, which dates back about 12 years.

“It’s a fundraiser for the girls basketball team,” said Tanisha Franklin, the girls basketball coach who dominated the court for the faculty team.

Students paid $1 per ticket to watch the game, and proceeds go to help cover costs of camp, uniforms and before-game meals.

Most of the cheering was for the student team, and fans took the opportunity to poke fun at their teachers.

Calls of “air ball, air ball” were heard when a teacher’s jump shot fell short.

The opposing team included members of Franklin’s team such as point guard Chmicka Kennedy, who faced off with her coach when both were on the court.

Teacher Traci Cain, senior class adviser, refereed the game.

“It’s a chance for the students to get back at the staff,” she said.

Other faculty players included Anthony Reid,

Phil Warren, Josh Marsh, Sgt. John Szewczyk, Art Carney, Jeff Odoguardi, Victor Arcenio, Susie Latouf, LaWanna Sims, Corey Thomas and Claude Bentley Jr. That’s much of the school’s coaching staff. Principal Holly Seimetz, a former coach, took a few shots, too.

The student team also included several basketball players both from the boys and girls teams, but only one school-team player was permitted to play at a time.

“It’s something we’ve been doing for a long time,” Cain said of the faculty- student games.

The school stages student-faculty sporting events throughout the year.

“In the fall, we have senior-faculty volleyball,” Cain said. “In late winter, we have a faculty-student dodgeball game.”