This year, Liberty’s club, Champions Together, kicked off their basketball season with a Blue/white scrimmage, right here, at Liberty. Champions Together has an extra-long basketball season this year with a total of 10 games. Champions Together strives for inclusivity and basketball has to be one of the students’ and teachers’ favorite sporting events of the year. Students from middle schools and Grace Miller Elementary even came to Liberty to support our Champions Together program.
The blue/white scrimmage was a scrimmage where our own program split into two groups who competed against each other. Buddies and champions took the court hand in hand hoping to have a super fun day of basketball. Cheerleaders were on the baseline supporting both teams as they both strived for victory. In the end, the blue team ended up taking the overall victory with a game-ending buzzer-beater shot.
After the blue/white scrimmage, Liberty welcomed the middle school teams to the court. Liberty was going to be hosting a basketball tournament for Marshall, Cedar Lee, Auburn, and Culpeper Middle School Jr. Champions Together programs. Each team played each other in a short basketball game, striving toward victory.
As the tournament came to a close, all teams went back to their designated areas in the bleachers. Once the crowd simmered down, Champions Together leaders announced which middle schools would be competing in the championship game. The crowd stomped their feet, bringing excitement and intrigue to the big reveal. Finally, the words echoed through the gym. “Cedar Lee and Culpeper are moving on to the championship game!”
Both schools were ecstatic. Even the other teams who did not make it to the championship couldn’t have been happier for the other schools. This showed great sportsmanship! During the first half of this game, Cedar Lee took a big lead, but during the second half, they made a comeback. With 5 seconds left on the clock, the game was tied. Cedar Lee had the ball. 5..4..3..2..1.. The buzzer rang and the shot sunk into the net. Cedar Lee had won the game. The teams shook hands and Cedar Lee stayed on the court to be awarded champion of the tournament. 
This day was such an amazing opportunity for inclusivity. The high schoolers worked together to make the day so much fun for the younger kids to see what Champions Together basketball was like. The day ended with pizza, chips, and juice, ensuring that everyone’s day at Liberty was even better. Spectators, players, cheerleaders, and coaches can’t wait to see what the rest of this season has to offer.
