By Moses Leos III

It’s not uncommon to hear the roar of the crowd, squeaky sneakers or the dull thumps of a dribbling basketball cascading from the confines of Lobo Gym. 

Except when it’s late May, and the basketball season ended months previous. 

But those familiar sounds echoed through the empty halls of Lehman High on May 23. It was all part of the school’s Students vs. Staff basketball game. Players and spectators on both sides were eager to take part in the event. 

“It’s tons of fun. I love getting to play around with the kids,” Lehman principal and staff team point guard Michelle Chae said. “Everyone is smiling and having a good time.” 

The idea of a Staff vs. Students game originated four years ago. It was held in conjunction with the basketball programs’ “Kings of the Court” 3-on-3 tournament. 

“The original idea was to send off our senior girls and guys with something special,” Lehman head boys basketball coach Thomas Acker said. “We threw this in as a part of [the tournament] to get the kids involved. The teachers quietly like it, too.” 

During the first two years, the game was held outside of school, with minimal crowd support. 

That changed when Chae became principal in 2013. She green-lighted the idea of taking time out of the school day. 

By rearranging the schedule, Chae set aside a day at the end of the school during the last hour of the day for the game. She also ensured it wasn’t a mandatory event. Spectators voluntarily pay a $1 fee.  

“This time of year is perfect. Everyone is very stressed out,” she said. “It’s a great way to blow off steam and have fun with the kids and each other.” 

The event has now grown in size and popularity, for the athletes and staff members alike. 

It’s so popular, it’s gone into the classrooms. Lehman head boys basketball coach Thomas Acker said staff participants often wear their jerseys the day of the game. 

“During the day, the kids can see who’s playing [in the game],” Acker said. “That drums up the excitement.” 

That excitement culminates with the game itself, where staff take on the Lehman boys and girls basketball teams. Scores of students packed into Lobo Gym, while the students and staff participants donned their uniforms. 

The disparity of talent levels was easily apparent, as staff members went 0 for 20 on Friday in the final three minutes of warm ups. A decision was made to give the staff members a 20-point handicap. 

But even with the assist, the students held the upper hand. From the defensive stylings of the girls team, to the boys team’s up-tempo play, the students dominated the floor. 

It was highlighted by the high flying acrobatics of junior Kraig Shields, whose slam dunks on various staff members brought the crowd to a frenzy. 

“It’s something I’ve been looking forward to it for a while,” Shields said. “It was fun…we knew we had it in the bag from the beginning.”

Graduating senior Haley Rohde enjoyed competing against many in the Lehman coaching staff. 

“It’s fun [to play], especially against coaches, because they (get) on us so much in practice,” she said. “It’s fun to get revenge.” 

While the score was lopsided, the experience meant more than anything else.

For Acker, who chooses to act as an official rather than participate, seeing the excitement and fun is what it’s all about. 

But he believes there could be a day when the staff claims a win. 

“There will be a year the staff beats the students,” he said. “However, I’m not sure when that’s going to be.”