Stryker's Senior Night Was One To Remember

With a conference title ahead, the Panthers and the Blackbirds fought until the very end.

Photo by Hayden Clingaman

The Stryker Panthers faced the Pettisville Blackbirds on Friday, February 19, 2021. Tipoff started around 6 pm, but before the game began, senior night was underway. Stryker has nine seniors on their basketball roster and these are not just any ordinary seniors. These nine seniors have played basketball together since fourth grade; therefore, they have a lot of history together. This night was special for them and their families for it is their night to shine. In the end, Stryker did not disappoint. Despite the number of seniors Stryker has, two seniors stuck out in this game: Kaleb Holsopple and Amos Sloan.

“These nine seniors have played basketball together since fourth grade; therefore, they have a lot of history together.”

Right off the bat, Stryker and Pettisville came out swinging ending the first quarter at 15 to 17, Pettisville. After seeing the first quarter and how close the game already is, fans knew how the rest of the game will go. The Panthers and the Blackbirds kept going back and forth with one another; however, the Blackbirds ended up ahead of the Panthers at the end of the second, and third quarters. When the buzzer sounded at the end of the third quarter, Stryker knew they had work to do while leaving everything they have out on the floor. Being down 4 points at the end of the third quarter gave the Panthers the energy they needed to finish the game. The Panthers kept pushing the Blackbirds to the edge but by the time the final buzzer sounded, the Panthers were too late. Despite Stryker's hard work, competitiveness, and trust amongst one another, the Blackbirds ended up with the win. Surely, this will be a senior night nobody will forget. The final score was 36 to 41, Blackbirds.

The Stryker Panthers were led by Kaleb Holsopple who scored 14 points, followed by Amos Sloan with 11, (Sr.) Joseph Ramon with 5, (Sr.) Brandon Bowers with 3, and sophomore Levi Barnum with 3 points.

Written by Hayden Clingaman