Spokane, WA

Signs on Gym Walls to Boost Spirit

I’m not much of a sports fanatic. Growing up a theatre geek, I generally prefer to go see a play than a basketball game any time I have a choice between the two options. This has frustrated my younger sister, a cheerleader for Liberty High School in Spangle (about 20 minutes south of Spokane on hwy 195‚Äîthe school is located at 6404 E. Spangle-Waverly Rd.) She finally convinced me to come to one of her home games to watch her cheer. It turned out to be way more exciting for me than I had predicted.

Winning shot

There’s something prideful in watching a small-town, small school basketball game. Sure, the gyms is small and the bleachers can’t hold that many people (but not that many people come), but everyone who comes to watch the game is completely involved. I got caught up in all of the excitement as the audience screamed right along with the cheerleaders, calling out actions to the refs and players. The people that come to the basketball games are more than just teachers and parents, but a lot of locals. There’s not as much “to do” in the small town of Spangle as there is in a bigger city like Spokane, so the home sports games are a bright spot of entertainment.

My cute sister cheering

The girls’ games ended up being a loss with about 10 points behind. They worked hard, but were generally a few points behind throughout the game. The boy’s game, however, was neck-to-neck the entire time. With each new basket Liberty and their opposing team (Ritzville) took turns taking the lead. With only 13 seconds to go, Liberty was behind by one point in the fourth quarter. The entire audience rose from their seats as our home team used every bit of those thirteen seconds to nail a final basket, and steal the game as a win. Without realizing it at first, I was screaming with shouts of joy along with everyone else that was jumping up and down and hugging one another. It was a good game, with a great finish.

Now, when my sister invites me to attend her home games, I’ll be more inclined to go. I never thought I could get into sports, but I genuinely had a good time. Liberty’s upcoming home games are January 26th against Davenport, January 30th against Odessa, January 31st against Reardan, and February 7th against Valley Christian. If they make it to districts I’ll be able to watch them play here in Spokane against Mead and Mt. Spokane Schools, and if they make it to state then they will get to play at the Spokane Arena. But even then, I’m not sure it will have the same small-town feel that I liked so much about watching them play in their little school’s small gym.