ATHOL — With school bragging rights on the line, the Athol High School alumni and faculty took on the seniors in a basketball competition to raise money for an all-night after prom party on Monday night.
Assistant Principal David King provided witty, and sometimes sarcastic play-by-play during the game.
“The event is sponsored by the Athol High School after prom party,” King said. “That committee is made up of parents of the senior class and interested community members that go out and raise money for our senior after prom party at Athol High School.”
There will be a theme and several activities at the after prom party which starts at 11 p.m. and goes until the morning, but the festivities remain a secret until the night of the prom.
The teachers and faculty cut through the seniors with little resistance in a pair of victories for the elders.
The event started with the female contest with the teachers and alumni beating the seniors, 72-40. The adults’ precision ball movement through the student’s defense allowed for several easy shot opportunities throughout.
Molly Cleveland (Athol, 2015) scored 20 points to lead both teams.
“I haven’t played in four years,” Cleveland said. “So getting off the court alive was my plan.”
After Athol, Cleveland played collegiate soccer at Assumption College.
“This was a fundraiser,” Cleveland said. “It’s all about having fun.”
Cleveland led a balanced scoring attack with Elaine Gauthier, Kelly Kaczmarczyk, Kiley Cleveland all reaching double-figures.
The seniors seemed to have a specific game plan to launch many, many 3-pointers against the adults.
The plan worked early with Avah Cantrell leading the way.
“It’s some of our last memories to get together and have fun,” Cantrell said. “Going against our teachers that we have known for a while.”
Cantrell had four 3-pointers for the seniors and did not hesitate if she was open, finishing with 18 points. Cantrell played basketball in elementary school and middle school.
“I like basketball for fun,” Cantrell said. “I am not really aggressive.”
Julia Carey led the seniors’ defensive effort, hustling up and down the court to stop the seasoned veterans.
The men took to the court after with the adults beating the seniors, 78-33.
The adults played a tough, congested zone with active hands that was hard for the students to penetrate.
Dan Bevis returned to the court after a hiatus to lead the adults’ offense from his old point guard position with the Red Raiders.
The size of Doug Kaczmarczyk, Josh Talbot and Matt Talbot gave the students trouble in the paint the whole game.
The adults built a lead with the gliding offense of special education teacher Peter Whitmore.
“It’s a great fundraiser for the after prom party,” Whitmore said. “It’s fun to get out of the classroom and see the kids in a different light. A lot of tradition.”
Although he enjoyed the fundraising aspect and hanging with students outside the classroom the victory was still sweet.
“It was fun to go out and play,” Whitmore said. “More important that we won. We are old, but we knew we could out run them.”
During his 18 years at the school, Whitmore has never lost to the students.
The seniors seemed to have a game plan, devised by coaches Mason Barrieau and Joe England.
“Run and gun,” Barrieau said before the game. “We are going to run them tired. Our whole coaching method came to us a minute ago.”
Justin Wallace scored eight points but the offense was scarce for the seniors.
Brymere Edwards and Davy Arias were active but the teachers’ defense clamped down on them in the paint.
