The Rogers girls basketball team is off to a rough start, going 1-4 through its first five games, with the lone win coming over Class 1B Chesterton Academy.
However, this week’s spirit games provide an opportunity for programs that may not qualify for state to take on a packed college or professional gym in front of the largest crowd to ever cheer them on.
The Pirates fell to the host Cheney Blackhawks 31-14 on Tuesday at Eastern Washington University’s Reese Court, but that didn’t dampen their excitement or take away from the significance.
Cheney’s Jillian Hoover led all scorers with nine points.
“It’s a really good experience for our kids,” Rogers coach Lindsay Hernandez said. “Rogers hasn’t had the experience to play in an arena or here at Eastern for a long time, so now that they have the opportunity to do that, it’s so much fun for them and they can feel like they’re equal to all the other kids in town.”
The atmosphere was in stark contrast to most Pirates girls games.
“Generally, we don’t have a lot of fans at our games, so when they play in front of fans like this and everyone’s screaming and the energy is so high, it’s an amazing experience,” Hernandez said.
An amazing experience, but also a great responsibility.
“Yes, it’s fun and yes, they feel the pressure. They’re not used to this kind of atmosphere, so they feel a little bit of pressure,” Hernandez said. “But it’s more fun, more exciting, more exciting, and they look forward to it every year.”
It was the first “Rumble” for Cheney coach Bryce Currie. The Blackhawks made it a “two-day affair” at Reese Court with practice and pizza on Monday.
“What an amazing experience for our team,” he said. “I’m very proud of the way they responded to the atmosphere. We had some players that had to come in because of injuries and I thought they handled the extra minutes and the pressure with grit and toughness. That’s what we want our program to be known for — that we don’t make it easy for anybody in this league.”
Hernandez was proud of how her team responded under the literal and figurative bright lights.
“I feel like they adjusted. It was a little overwhelming and then they got used to it and then they used it as momentum and built on it.”
Even the best teams have trouble adjusting to the basket so far from the walls of the gymnasium in larger arenas.
“The depth perception here and in the arena is so different from anything we’re used to, so hoops like that aren’t practiced regularly,” Hernandez said. “So that’s definitely a difficulty, but it’s just part of what comes with it.”
Hernandez is in her seventh season as a head coach and eighth overall at Rogers. She is no stranger to these Spirit Week games. But she also knows that sometimes her program’s wins and losses aren’t recorded on the basketball court.
“We work really hard. My girls come to practice and do what’s asked of them and try their best,” she said. “And sometimes it might not be the same as other teams, but they’re great kids and it’s great to be around them.”
Boys
Cheney 59, Rogers 51: Kade Adderley scored 19 points, Rowen Volk added 17, and the Blackhawks (3-2) beat the Pirates (3-2) late in the game. Hands Warrick led Rogers with 13 points.
It was tied 42-42 with less than six minutes remaining, but Cheney used a 10-0 run, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Gabe Bleick and Volk, to pull away.
Rogers coach Karim Scott played at Eastern Washington.
“It was great here tonight. I lost my voice screaming,” he said. “It’s always great to come home. I have great memories here and I want our kids to have the same memories and experiences that I had.”
In addition to his wins on the court, Cheney also won a Star Wars-themed ghost contest.
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