Coaches, faculty, and staff challenged Upper School students to a game of hoops, and it was a nail-biter! The Student Government Association helped organize the Faculty-Student Basketball Game to support local service projects, such as Education Matters Tutoring.
The game was a close one with the faculty winning 31-30. Coaches Willie Calvin and Andre Stringer led the faculty late in the game with Coach Stringer draining a three pointer from the wing. The students fought back trying to save time by fouling the faculty along with a three pointer from senior Graves Haraway to cut the lead to one, but could not pull it off.
The game has been a tradition at JA and was brought back this year after a few years’ hiatus. “Overall, we loved the support from the Middle and Upper School students in helping bring back a storied tradition originally created by long-time physical education teacher Becky Clarke,” said James Chapman. “We loved the way that we could combine school spirit with raising money for a good cause. We thought it was very successful and can’t wait to see it come back again next year–bigger and better.”
Education Matters Tutoring, founded by junior Shelby Grant, aims to help underprivileged elementary school students in the Jackson Metro area receive free, in-depth tutoring. It is fully run by JA students, with more than 20 JA students currently tutoring. The group has three partnerships with local organizations that were in need of tutoring: Stewpot Mississippi, the Willie Morris Library, and MadCAAP in Canton.
Organizers said the basketball game raised several hundred dollars, with funds still being submitted.
