Students Drill Staff in Black Hawk Middle School Basketball Game

Black Hawk Middle School held its ninth annual student versus staff basketball game late Thursday afternoon after a week of school spirit activities.

About two thirds of the student body and 100 parents were present at the game and the school held a pep-fest to pump up students at 7:30 a.m. that day. The student council sponsored and facilitated concessions and games in the school's cafeteria at the game; the rest of the students cheered on their fellow classmates.

Also, about 25 members of the school's band (which made up their 'pep band') played at the game.

Students interested in playing against Black Hawk Middle School staff submitted a form and their names were put into a lottery. Five boys and five girls were chosen from each grade. At the end, the eighth grade basketball 'A' teams (both boy and girl) played the teachers.

According to Principal Rich Wendorff, the students have won seven out of the nine games since the basketball games began in 2003.

The spirit week is similar to that of homecoming week in the high schools; each day the school does something different to build up energy for the big game.

"It has become a huge deal," Wendorff said. "The kids are so into it. [However], we have made changes over the years."

Students and parents pay to attend the game ($2 for students, $3 for parents) and it serves as a "mini-fundraiser." The money they earn from the game helps pay for their three Panther Pride award ceremonies held throughout the year, as well as their Presidential Academic Award Ceremony near the end of the year.

However, Assistant Principal Jay Williams said, "We do it more for school spirit-- something fun in the winter months."

Wendorff agreed, saying the fundraising is secondary. "We like to build-up school spirit."

If you missed the game, you can catch it on Eagan Television (E-TV):

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