What goes on behind the scenes at Gravette basketball contest?
GRAVETTE — Sometimes it is taken for granted how much work and many people it takes to put on a basketball game or any sporting event. Consider what it takes to host games of the Gravette Lions and Lady Lions at the competition gym.
The journey starts as fans enter the front doors where they encounter gate workers Jana Hardgrave and Robin Morris. This duo sells tickets, answers questions and directs people to the seating sections. These agents are the first in a long line of volunteers that help make this sporting event a success.
If you need a hot dog, nachos and a drink, the people at the Lions concession stand are ready to help. Most of the volunteers are part of school organizations or Gravette community groups that partner with the athletic department to man the concession stand for a small part of the night’s take.
Once the games get underway, there are several students, teachers and staff members that volunteer their time and talents to keep the game moving smoothly. The many volunteers like Barrett Brick who helps with the time clock and Sherri Webb who is at every game keeping the score-books. Sheldon Mckinzie, assistant football coach, does an outstanding job of announcing each game.
Each Gravette basketball team has its own set of volunteers that serve as student managers, water persons and game videographers. The Gravette athletic program also has its own set of trainers to take care of any medical needs or any injuries that might happen during the basketball contest.
Taylor Cross serves as water boy for the boys varsity team as well as John Childress as the team manager, a position he has filled for the four years of his high school career.
Most of these volunteers and coaches blend into the flow of each contest. But there are two groups of students and sponsors that make themselves very visible during the games, the Gravette cheerleaders and the Lion pep band.
The cheerleaders, coached by Mary Helen Smithers, Dana Betz and Traci Rutledge (junior high team), bridge the gap between the fans and the teams. The cheer squad’s primary job is to keep the crowds in the contest, whether the team is winning or losing. It also performs between games, at halftime and during time outs.
The varsity team consists of captain Timmie Betz (junior) and Julia Matteson, the only senior on the squad. The remainder of the team is Aubrey Gebhart (junior); and Kaitlyn Conway, Marriah Davis, Layne Franks, Bella Holloway, Katie Keith, Ty Jordan, Stormey Pembleton and Ashley Tryon (all sophomores).
The second group is one that is heard but not seen. They are the Gravette High School pep band under the direction of Aaron Ray. The 30-member ensemble provides the music that permeates to every corner of the competition gym. From the loft over the coaches’ offices, the band, coupled with the cheerleaders, leads the crowd and provides the pep and drive needed to inspire the players to work harder.
When the band strikes up the Gravette fight song, Lion fans take to their feet and join the cheer team in supporting the boys and girls basketball programs to lead them on to victory.
This same scenario is played out in Decatur, Gentry, Siloam Springs and high schools all over the country. Without these dedicated volunteers who use their time and talents in support of their home teams, there might not be any high school sports programs, no slam dunks, no three-point field goals and no last-minute winning shots.
Next time you go to a game, take a minute to thank these volunteers for helping to make high school basketball and sports in general successful. They deserve a little pat on the back once in a while.