For more than 45 years, Harrisburg High School has provided an engaging experience for students and families alike: basketball. The students who join the Harrisburg Boys Basketball Team have the opportunity to play the sport that they love and gain a variety of life skills along the way. Nicholas Tschudy, a senior varsity basketball player, states, “I really enjoy competing and playing basketball; however, the best part of the sport is the memories and relationships that are made.”
As the basketball season of 2020-2021 unfolds, the team can now identify and target the challenges and issues they face, so they can adapt and strive for the State AA Tournament. Senior varsity basketball player Ethyn Rollinger describes these challenges as playing in “a few close games that came down to the last two or three possessions. These games are the hardest but also the most fun.” The group continues to focus on improving by gaining experience, practicing harder, and forming specific strategies for each opponent they face. Ultimately, the team aspires to make it to the State AA Tournament on March 18-20 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City. After recently defeating Yankton at the Pentagon on Thursday, February 4th, the Tigers rank second out of the eighteen teams within the AA class with a record of 11-2.
Every year the Harrisburg Boys Basketball Team experiences competition and enjoyment; however, this season differs from any other season. Because of the pandemic, coaches and families have taken extra precautions to ensure the continuance of the basketball season. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Harrisburg School District placed a mask mandate at all games and requires athlete temperature checks before any participation. Jacoby Mehrman, a skilled freshman, stated, “I wasn’t on the high school team last year, but I know there are significantly fewer fans at the games. One big effect that COVID has had on the season is that we are only allowed a set number of tickets for each game to give to family. This makes it so some of my family members who want to go to the games have not been able to.” Fortunately, Tiger Vision holds live streams of the games, which can be accessed through the District’s YouTube channel, so family and friends can watch from home.
In the end, playing basketball in a gym full of fans holds a special place in the hearts of many basketball players, so safety must remain a priority. These athletic opportunities provide fun for the community, allow for teammates to support each other, and offer students time to spend with their peers outside of the classroom. We wish the Tigers the best of luck as they prepare for their post-season competition.