The game of basketball is widely known for its fast-paced, high-flying, energetic style of play that keeps fans on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next flashy pass, big three, or rim-rocking lob. Over the recent decades, the game has been defined by legends such as Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, players who are idolized by thousands of young players and helped make basketball culture one of the most distinctive communities in all of sports.
However, the basketball community that so many know and love has not been created solely under the bright lights of the NBA, rather, it continues to be fostered in communities across the country who enjoy supporting high school hoops.
This brings us to our very own Wayzata High School on February 6, where the main gym was packed with students, families, and other supporters for Friday night Trojans basketball. This game was a matchup between Wayzata and Maple Grove, two of the best programs in the state. The Crimson had bested the defending champs, Wayzata, in their previous matchup with a late game winner from four star junior Baboucarr Ann.
Wayzata entered the game with a state best record of 18-2 while Maple Grove sat at 12-6. Both schools boast some of the nation’s top high school talent with players such as Max Iversen, Baboucarr Ann as previously stated, Nolan Anderson, and Christian Wiggins. Even before the opening tip the excited energy that encompasses gyms all around the country on Friday nights was looming in the air.
There is much more to the recipe for a premiere hoops atmosphere than just the players and high profile matchups. On select dates throughout the winter sports season, the Wayzata Spirit Band attends games and entertains the audience with live music, including timeless pop and rock classics that families can enjoy. On February 6, the band started 20 minutes before the game, kicking off the night with our signature school song. As supporters ranging from kindergartners, high school students, all the way to parents and grandparents trickled in, top-tier live music had already begun, inviting the guests to take a seat as excitement rose for the upcoming matchup.
Finally, the first whistle blew and the game between two Minnesota powerhouses was underway. After a closely contested first 10 minutes of the game, Wayzata held a narrow lead, led by Nolan Anderson who was heating up after starting the night with a three off a baseline screen which evoked a thunderous roar from the student section.
The Wayzata student section is truly a marvel to watch as no two consecutive seconds can go by without some type of activity coming from the top right sideline. Over the course of the 40 minute game, the section will participate in a myriad of activities such as the domino effect fall when a player is announced at the start of a game and an imaginary arrow is thrown at the section as a part of the pregame handshakes. Additionally, students who were previously partaking in sports of their own such as the boys and girls freshman basketball teams will often take a seat on the home side baseline and cheer on their fellow classmates. At times, the student occupied bleachers get so raucous with chants and commotion it’s difficult to tell whether the purpose of them is to make it distracting for opposing players, or simply hyping up our Trojans. And in all honesty, that is truly the beauty of the section.
For the Crimson, Max Iversen let the away teams charge, while Nolan Anderson continued to impress with an efficient outing, building off of his 54/44/83 shooting splits. At halftime, Wayzata still held the lead by a narrow margin. With the game at a momentary standstill, the spirit band provided some needed activity and energy as bystanders began to calm down from the high-energy first half. Among those moving around were a wide variety of students from the high school. Other student athletes returning from activities of their own, band members, and friends of the team’s players made up one cohesive body of students, all contributing their own talents and presence to the event.
Upon hearing band members’ thoughts on Wayzata’s community through basketball, it became apparent that while not all students have an equal interest or knowledge level in the game itself, going to the event and cheering on Wayzata is what brings the state’s largest student body together. Mellophone player Naia Spoonheim told me, “When we all come together…it shows that we are all doing the same thing. It doesn’t have to be our favorite, but it’s something we have in common.”
Coming out of the break, the Trojans held control of the game for the large part of the second half, however, as clutch time closed in, a scene Wayzata knew all too well began to unfold again. In the final three minutes, the Crimson pulled out an impressive run and defeated our Trojans 62-57. While Wayzata did lose, the night illustrated the epitome of basketball culture. It was a wonderful event created by the spotlight of high school’s biggest athletic stage and the hundreds of other members of our school’s community all coming together for the common passion of our blue and gold.
