The power of local teams
photo by sky stockton
how local sports teams unite us, both in the community and around the nation
From hockey to football, basketball, and beyond, our community’s sports stories are powerful. The dedication to sports of students and adults alike throughout our small town has brought low-income kids a state championship, united students across rival schools to come together and fight as one, and so much more. The spirit flowing through our little gymnasiums and decade-old tennis courts in small-town America can never be rivaled.
Many may remember that, two years ago, the Benton Harbor boys basketball team fought their way up to the Class B State Championship and, in a miraculous overtime shot, Carlos Johnson, 10, scored an extra three points to win the title for the Tigers. Coach Corey Sterling of Benton Harbor boys basketball witnessed the power of the boys’ journey from their small town in SW Michigan to the publicity and news coverage of a state title in East Lansing.
“The championship united the city in a positive way. Everyone was proud and positive. [Benton Harbor] is a basketball city and it gave the younger BHAS students hope and passion to work even harder on and off the court. City Hall was very supportive as well,” he said.
“It was overwhelming. We had a laundry list of events to attend. We were invited and participated in the parade, [were] invited to the state capital, and we were sent to Disney World in Florida,” Coach Sterling said.
Another example of a unifier of our area was the Lakeshore/St. Joseph football game on September 20, 2019. In this game, the SJHS boys varsity football team broke an 8-year losing streak with a final score of 22-14. Our boys stood out on the field, sporting bright pink jerseys. SJHS brought the community together that night with the “Team Up Against Cancer” theme for the game, where the ticket was free with the purchase of a white t-shirt. All proceeds went to the Berrien County Cancer Service. The game brought out nearly the whole of SJHS’s student population.
Without sports, our community—including the surrounding cities of Stevensville, Benton Harbor, Niles, etc.—wouldn’t be so strongly connected. We support each other when our kids win state championships. We attend football rivalry games that have been repeated for decades not because we’re bored, but because the spirit of our city is exemplified through the toss of a football, the spin of a hockey puck, or the swish of a basketball hoop.
“The championship united the city in a positive way. Everyone was proud and positive. [Benton Harbor] is a basketball city and it gave the younger BHAS students hope and passion to work even harder on and off the court. City Hall was very supportive as well.”
The beauty of local sports is just that: what you see is exactly what you get. here’s no TV alterations, no biased commentating, and no national news coverage. Just some teenagers playing pick-up basketball on Sundays, or sometimes even the more intricate gatherings like football games or hockey tournaments. The simplicity of local sports can never be beaten.