High school students enjoy good sportsmanship, learning the game

Izzy Guara, Janene Mabrey and Michelle Scrag enjoy the Friday afternoon game.

By Wendy Nugent

NEWTON—There were many similarities in the Friday afternoon basketball game of the Tri-County League Railers in the Newton High School Willis Gym to other such games, like the crowd roaring when someone wearing black and gold scored, coaches guiding team members and cheerleaders yelling.

What was a bit different was, even though the Railers were behind, as they lost against Wichita East 35-19, Railers members who sat on the bench much of the game played a bit. One girl in a wheelchair even got to take part, throwing the ball to another player a couple of times.

Winning wasn’t the only goal.

“We have told them it’s learning the game, good sportsmanship and having fun,” coach Mariah Banning said.

The other coach is Heather Christner.

Wichita spearheads the league, as there’s a board and other factions, Banning said.

NHS students on the team are in Banning’s, Christner’s and Michelle Schrag’s classes.

“We really only had three kids who wanted to play, so we’ve convinced Schrag’s class to play,” Banning said.

They practice once or twice a week and there are about 20 students on the squad.

A couple of the team members, Dakota Stafford and Landen McBroom, had a great time.

“I liked shooting the hoops,” Stafford said. “I also like defense.”

He also liked it when the crowd cheered.

“I care about fair sports, winning a lot and having a good game,” McBroom said. “We can win medals and trophies and play a fair game and let God be with us and have a Christian heart and Jesus inside.”

McBroom said that his dad, local pastor, teacher and Mayor Clint McBroom, and his grandparents, were there cheering him on.

“I shot a lot of hoops,” McBroom said.

Joe Edington, Dakota Stafford and Landen McBroom give a high-five during the Friday basketball game at Newton High School.
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