Last night was an exciting night for the Rebels as they took on the Zalma Bulldogs for their 2013 Homecoming Game. The bleachers were packed with former graduates, fans, and alumni as the Rebels took the court. It was an amazing game that had the crowd cheering and by the looks on the coaches’ faces tonight, it was obvious that the boys played their hardest and they played very well.
The Rebels instantly took the lead in the first quarter after senior Richard Forhsee got the tipoff. Senior Nick Daniels scored the first eight points of the night for the Rebels, sinking one free throw and handling two layups. The Rebels were really running their offense tonight and kept Zalma on their toes. Senior Jesse Barnes and sophomore Skyler Harper played great offense and scored many for the Rebels. The first quarter ended with Richland in the lead, 22 to 7.
During the short break between the first and second quarter, Richland’s head coach, Matt Cline, rewarded Forshee with the game ball. Tonight was a very special night for this senior due to him scoring his 1000th point during his high school basketball career. The fans in the crowd went wild as Forshee received the ball. Forshee ended up being the lead scorer for the night and played amazing defense for his team.
During this time, Richland’s superintendent, Frank Killian, had a moment of silence as seventh grade trumpet player, Josh Kidd, played Taps in honor of the 2003 Richland graduate and soldier, Michael Harlan, who was recently lost in a hiking accident in Hawaii. Many of Harlan’s former classmates had t-shirts made in honor of him and wore them proudly to the Homecoming Game. Michael will always be remembered and greatly missed by the Rebels.
When the game resumed with the second quarter, the Bulldogs seemed to have trouble hitting double digits, as well as getting their hands on the ball. Barnes had many layups, scoring multiple points for the Rebels. With the Bulldogs getting a number of fouls, Forshee received free throws, which he made many of. Both seniors, Daniels and Forshee, worked very well together while Forhsee received the rebounds and Daniels scored multiple layups. By the end of the second quarter, Richland had nearly tripled the Bulldog’s points with a score of 47 to 17, with Barnes shooting a free throw while the buzzer sounded.
When halftime began, the crowd enjoyed a short dance done by the elementary cheerleaders to the song Cut Loose. The high school cheerleaders have been working with the younger girls for a couple of weeks for this special occasion. It is always a hit with the parents and the fans and it also gives the younger children a chance to learn different cheers and prepare for cheerleading in upcoming years. The crowd also got to enjoy multiple songs played by the Rebel Rouser Pep Band.
When the third quarter started, the Rebels still held a strong lead over Zalma but the Bulldogs began to slowly gain points. They inched their way closer to the Rebels, who seemed to have a weakened defense. Eventually, the Rebels regained full control of the ball and made an even bigger point gap when the third quarter came to an end with a score of 68 to 34.
The last quarter was the most enjoyable as the crowd cheered wildly for the home team. Forshee continued to play great defense, catching every rebound made by the Bulldogs and passing it to his teammates who were quick to score. Forshee finished the game and was the lead scorer, followed by Daniels, Harper, and Barnes. Richland’s Homecoming Game was counted as a victory with the final score of 76 to 46.
It was a very successful night for the Rebels and it will be remembered by many.
