Elementary Week comes to a close with an evening full of basketball
Elementary Week in Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES) and Mountain Lake Christian Elementary (MLC) came to a climax on Friday, February 6 as elementary students from both schools converged on the public school gymnasium for a full evening’s worth of basketball. The C-Squad, B-Squad and Varsity teams successfully hosted the Adrian Dragons.
A special section in the “red seats” auditorium area was reserved just for elementary students. Prior to the varsity game, MLES sixth-grade students, led by the school’s vocal instructor, Andrea Brinkman, presented the National Anthem.
The Saturday morning basketball players in grades kindergarten-through-three demonstrated their ball-handling and shooting skills at halftime of the B-Squad game – led by the Varsity ballplayers.
At the mid-game mark of the varsity game, winners of both the MLPS and MLC grades 3-6 Free Throw Contests were announced. Also at the varsity half, prizes were given away to registered elementary students.
Elementary Week – which includes boys basketball players mentoring in the classrooms of each school, as well as the special Elementary Night of basketball, are sponsored by the MLA boys basketball program.
DURING THE HALFTIME of the B-Squad boys basketball game, young ballplayers from the Saturday morning kindergarten-through-grade three league took to the hardcourt to demonstrate their ball-handling and shooting skills. This group of boys run lay-up drills under the watchful eye of Varsity ballplayer Zach Palm-Khamvongsa.
THESE GIRLS SHADOW the ball-handling skills of Varsity ballplayer Ryan McCue (not pictured) as if he is the Pied Piper.
SENIOR WOLVERINE ERIC Wenner leads another group of young ballplayers in a drill of fancy basketball-dribbling.
BEFORE THE TIP-off of the Varsity game, the MLES sixth grade class, under the lead of their music teacher, Andrea Brinkman, present the National Anthem.
AFTER THEIR PERFORMANCE, the sixth-grade students are congratulated by the Wolverine Varsity boys, including senior Logan Johnson.
AT THE VARSITY half, T-shirts, basketballs and other prizes are given away to registered elementary students. In addition, the Grades 3-6 Free Throw Contest winners at MLES and MLC are recognized.
GROUP PHOTO OF the first-place winners in the Free Throw Contest. From left, Sixth Grade Boys Champ Ethan Nickel (18/30), 4th Grade Girls Champ Brooke Naas (23/50), Sixth Grade Girls Champ Annelise Regier (15/30), Third Grade Girls Winner Adaliyah Srixonghou, MLC Girls Champion Elizabeth Linscheid (10/30), Third Grade Boys Winner Joey Faber and MLC Boys Champ Ian Penner (15/30). Not pictured, Fifth Grade Girls Champ Chloe Anacker (11/30), Fifth Grade Boys Champ Tanner Koetzle (16/30) and Fourth Grade Boys Champ Alex Blom (32/50).
THE VARSITY BENCH and fans erupt with cheers late in the fourth quarter as the Wolverines put a little space between themselves and the Adrian Dragons. At the buzzer, the home team had downed the visitors , 68-59. At front, a blurry Eric Wenner goes in motion backing his way down court. Behind, from left, Head Coach Shawn Naas, Derek Harder, Levi Jahnke (behind), Ben Grev, Logan Johnson, Slade Harder, Jared Saunders, Zach Palm-Khamvongs and Dustin Klassen. In second row at right, additional bench members, from left, Tiger Sengmany, Tommy Kraemer and Sam Xayanourom.
