By Nina Hutchins
Each year, the Hoophall Classic draws elite high school basketball programs from across the nation. Every January, teams pack buses, board planes, and leave behind their familiar home environments for the chance to compete on the national stage. For some, the journey is short and routine. For other teams, their trip spans across the country.
While many matchups during the weekend highlight this contrast, it is most evident when East Coast programs face opponents from the West. One matchup this year featured Notre Dame High School (West Haven, Conn.) and Inglewood High School (Inglewood, Calif.). Two schools separated by 2,918 miles, meeting on the same stage at Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass.
For years, Hoophall has brought together athletes who may never have had a chance to otherwise meet. Regardless of where they came from, each team arrives with the same goal: to test their limits, push themselves, and play their game against top competitors.
Notre Dame’s routine bus ride traveled just 75 minutes north on Interstate 91, a trip that parallels many other matchups on their regular schedule. The process was common, one that allowed the team to stick to their usual game day preparation.
“We were able to get shots up early, earlier in the day before we came here,” senior Abdou Toure said.
A game close to their home base also means that many familiar faces are packed into the bleachers to support the athletes.
“You know, we had fans here too. That also helped us a little bit in the home crowd advantage,” Toure said.
In contrast, the Sentinels from Inglewood, Calif., boarded a plane that crossed time zones before they landed in Boston. From there, the trek wasn’t over. Their first stop before the tournament was a trip to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, giving student-athletes from thousands of miles away the opportunity to dive into the local and national history of basketball within the museum.
Adjusting to a new climate also means adjusting to the weather. Inglewood was certainly given a New England welcome, with inches of snow greeting them upon arrival.
Yet, as tip-off approached, the distance no longer mattered. Each program embraced the opportunity to compete in a packed arena where every possession could change the course of the game. The teams battled through four quarters, a single point determining the win for Inglewood. The 81-80 final score reflected a hard-fought contest that was decided in the final moments.
Beyond the scoreboard, the Hoophall Classic is more than the wins and losses. Different journeys lead each athlete to the same floor. While geography separates them, the game continues to bring them together.
Photo by Emma Bynes/The Student