Tensions rise during Senior Night basketball game
by Ja'sia B.
On Friday night the 13 of January, South Aiken and Airport High School went face to face during their senior night girls basketball game. This game really meant alot to the Lady Eagles. Mainly because it determined whether or not their spot was secured in the playoffs.
Even the fans felt the tension between both teams during the game. Mainly because both teams kept cutting the score close. As Airport scored their fans went crazy, when South Aiken scored their fans stood up and cheered. The volume in the arena was so insanely loud that you could barely hear the person speaking next to you.
The Eagles ended the first half up by 6, with the score being 21-15. The second half they really had to step up their game as the Thoroughbreds were cutting the score close.
With about 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Eagles down by 3, Angel Mayes,a forward for the varsity team, goes up for a 3-pointer and gets fouled.
“I was really trying to keep my head and stay focused,” said Angel, recapping what was going through her head at the freethrow line. She then made all 3 free throws forcing them into overtime.
The score going into overtime was 45-45. Santana Reese, the shooting guard, shared her thoughts before overtime started.
Reese stated, “We had to put our foot on the gas” and that they were going to lose that game if they “kept playing how they were.”
“I just had my fans behind me… they just gave me motivation to keep South Aiken out of my head,” Angel stated.
Many of the students believed that this was the most interesting game of the season and that they had to come out with the win because it was senior night.
The Lady Eagles indeed stepped their game up in overtime which helped them come out with the win and become 3rd place in their region. Although the game was tense, the crowd helped the players relieve some of that tension by just being fans. South Akien went on to play Midland Valley the following Tuesday and were defeated with a score of 41-28. Which placed them last in the 4A region. Airport athletics have way more competition in their region now since moving up to a 4A school from a 3A.
Visit Maxpreps.com or download the app to view the highlights and the stats of this game.