The New Haven Shamrocks battled it out with the St. Clair Bulldogs Friday night on Valentine’s Day. Even though the Shamrocks lost 65-54 to the Bulldogs, they still put up a fight till overtime. Between the JV and Varsity game, there was also a Homecoming coronation. There were six candidates each from the junior and senior class. From the junior class were Caroline Otten, Hannah Rethemeyer, Ellie Westermeyer, Owen Borcherding, Jacob Engelbrecht, and Matthew Otten. The candidates for the senior class were Lauren Hoerstkamp, Lauralie Grater, Kayla Brumels, Demetri Pataky, Hunter Garren, and Jay Eichelberger.
Coach Aaron Peirick said, “Our shots weren't there and we had a horrible second half but our boys played hard throughout the game. And if we had one less mistake there might have been a different outcome to the game.”
Senior Lydia Otten replied about who she voted for in the Homecoming coronation. “I voted for Caroline and Jay. Caroline is my sister so I would have obviously voted for her and it would have been really cool if she would have won. I voted for Jay because he is a person that everyone should strive to be. He is a good leader of the senior class and someone that underclassmen should look at to be a role model for them.”
Senior Natalie Pecaut replied about the seniors who played their last game at home: “They told us it would go by fast and it really did. Some people literally grew up in that gym, either if you had siblings before you who played sports and you went to all their games, or if you were a multi-sport athlete. Many of us have spent countless hours in that gym and we wouldn't want it any other way! It was fun watching you boys!”
Junior Maria Sheible responded about the game, “I thought the boys played hard and kept their heads up even when the refs made bad calls.” She also responded about the seniors’ last game, “I know they were wanting a win, especially with it being their last home game, and it being Homecoming, but I think that they really stepped up and gave it their all.”
Congrats to Lauren Hoerstkamp and Demetri Pataky for getting Homecoming king and queen. And to all the senior basketball players, we are all proud of you. Even if you didn't win, you still put up a fight and walked off that court with your heads up.