The Brentsville High School Cheerleaders hosted the Second Annual Donkey Basketball game Saturday night, which pitted students against adults in a most unusual fundraiser.
Cheerleading coach Taryn Witt organized the benefit game in which Brentsville District High School and Nokesville Elementary School faced off against two teams of Brentsville seniors.
“I thought of this because, because it was something from quite a while a go. When I was in high school, they had this here,” Witt said.
After several games, Brentsville District High School seniors beat Nokesville Elementary teachers in an overtime game.
Donkey Basketball has proven to be a successful fundraiser that Witt plans to continue, especially since next year will settle a 1-1 tie between Nokesville Elementary and Brentsville High School adults.
The senior blue team; “The Jack Astronauts” beat both the senior white team “Wu Tang Clan” and then defeated the winning adult team, Nokesville Elementary in double-overtime.
However, the adults seem more intent on evening the score with the (rival) neighborhood school.
“We beat Nokesville Elementary last year, so now we’re 1-1. Next year will be the tie breaker,” BDHS Principal Katherine Meints, said in a post-game interview.
However, Nokesville teachers and parents were happy to have come back so strong since last year’s game.
“Last year, they shut us out, so we were very proud to beat the high school,” said Nokesville Principal Eric Worcester, who played two rounds in the Donkey Basketball game, but lost to the Jack Astronauts in double over-time.
For senior Nate Duffus of the Jack Astronauts, the best part of the experience was “winning." Although the team said that they were extra-excited to have won after the last round of the game went into sudden death overtime.
Duffus, who plays on the school’s basketball team, explained that there were obvious differences between basketball and Donkey Basketball.
“You’re not stable. You don’t have as much control,” Duffus said.
Participants were also surprised at how the donkeys sometimes bucked when they mounted them.
“I got a bruised hip,” said senior Reggie Kearney.
Whomever won or lost the game, everyone agreed that it was a great way to get the community together for something unique.
“It brings out the community. Obviously, you have the elementary school teacher playing the high school teachers. It used to be a big tradition, and it is kind of fun to get out here and do something different that people don’t always see,” said Meints.
Witt said the cheerleaders will use the money they raised to help offset their expenses throughout the year.
“Cheerleading is a year-round program, and quite and expensive one,” Witt said.
Buckeye Donkey Ball, a sponsorship company that organizes and runs donkey ball games around the country, provided the donkeys and referees.
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