Senior basketball players played their last home game, coming away with both a loss and a victory.

The boys won against Riverside with a score of 95 to 53; however the girls did not win.

“[On] senior night I was extremely nervous and had butterflies the whole game,” said girls’ basketball player Aleyah Timmons.

It was a big night, particularly for Dedrick Dean. He completed his 250th block during the game.

“[After the game] I felt good, like a winner because we won the game,” Dean said.

During the senior ceremony though, several seniors were recognized including cheer leaders Sam Perry, Kaitlyn Johns and Kayla Johnson, girls’ basketball players Aleyah Timmons and Machelle Stephens, and boys’ basketball players Dedrick Dean, Derrick Dean, Devin Aman, Walter Martin III and Julian Thompson.

The players used the time to reflect on their time at the school and in the basketball program.

“The four years I’ve been here I’ve learned so much from coach. Also, I became a better basketball player and can thank coach for that,” Dean said.

Dean gave something quite unique to his coach: a shoe signed by Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I like coach. I’ve played for him for four years. I wanted to give him something in return,” Dean said. “He has done so much for me I thought this was the least I could do for him.”

Coach Wallace was grateful for his special gift.

“I thought it was really nice of him,” Wallace said.

Cheerleader Sam Perry is not only part of the school track team, but she is also a member of the school cheer squad.

“I loved cheering at the home games, and getting students to get pumped up for the games was really exciting to me and inspiring our student body to get school spirit,” Perry said.

After juggling sports with homework, studying, and outlines, senior basketball players and cheerleaders plan to pursue their dreams in college.

 “I really want to go to Xavier University in Louisiana,” Timmons said.

Timmons plans to pursue a major in biology and eventually attend medical school; however, Timmons does not plan to play basketball in college.

Perry is currently undecided on her choice of college, however, plans to participate in pole vaulting. She is being recruited by the University of Central Oklahoma and University of Tampa.

“I may be a thunder girl after high school…just kidding, I have no plans of cheering anymore after high school,” Perry said.

Wallace hopes the senior players have no regrets as they leave high school and go on to college.