The Rampage

Pete Ruden  Sports Editor  Boys basketball has open gyms to prepare them for games later in the year. Photo credit Pete Ruden   Basketball never stops. That is a popular phrase among basketball players, originating from Nike shirts with the same motto on them. For the boys’ basketball team, that well-known tagline holds true. With the season not starting until December 4 at Indianola, the Rams are already preparing for that matchup.             Along with playing about 100 games this past summer, the team has been attending team camps, which will help them get ready for the season.             “We went to about six team camps, so with that we all found our roles,” said senior Chris Henderson. “Once the season starts, it will be real easy to come together, which we already have.”           ...

Ellen Bombela News Editor The Varsity girls huddle on the court. Photo courtesy of Kalie Savage. Unfortunately, after a heartbreaking loss Wednesday afternoon at Wells Fargo, the girls’ basketball season is over. The Rams started out the game strong and held a 14 point lead in the first half, but Iowa City fought back hard and challenged the Rams in an extremely close game. With 20 seconds left in the game, an Iowa City West player nailed a 3-pointer, securing Iowa City West’s lead.  The Rams were unable to compensate for the lost points with the remaining time, and lost the game with a score of 43-40 in favor of Iowa City West. It was a very low-scoring game for both teams. Despite the tragic loss, the girls’ basketball team had a spectacular season. They went into the state tournament ranked 6 th in the state with a record of 17 wins and only 7 losses. With 3 of the 5 starters returning next year for the Rams and lots of underclassmen moving up to fill the shoes of ...

Pete Ruden Staff Reporter                 Nic and Chris Henderson have been playing basketball with each other since fifth grade. Next year, they won’t be on the same team for the first time since then.                 “It was a cool experience being on the same team as my brother and I made memories that will never be forgotten,” said Nic, who will study at the University of Iowa after graduation.                 Chris said that it will be sad playing the sport he loves without his brother because he enjoyed his presence, but the team will be playing with a chip on their shoulder next year.  Of all the things he will miss, Chris cited transportation to and from games.              ...

Brett Blakemore Sports Editor                 The girls’ basketball team defeated Linn-Mar 56-45 last night and punched their ticket to the state tournament. This is the fifth year in a row that the team made it to Wells Fargo Arena, after winning it all, just two years ago. The Rams take on Iowa City West in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 4 at 3:15.                   A lot has changed and a lot is the same about the team since the title run in early 2013.  The cast of leaders that season was studded with players like seniors: Caitlin Ingle, Jessica Gardner, and Megan Bianchi. While that same team had its young talent, such as then freshman Abby Penquite, and then sophomore Jacey Huinker.                 Now as the girls begin to close again on another state run, the ...

Brooklyn Draisey Columnist                 On Tuesday, February 10, the Southeast Polk girls and boys basketball teams faced off against Ottumwa in their last regular games of the season.                 The girls had a very good start, and had gained a lead of ten points in the beginning of the second quarter. They held their lead and had 35 points at the half. Ottumwa was trailing behind at 22 points. In the beginning of the third quarter, #10 got injured and had to sit out for a while. The difference in points grew as the game went on, and the end score was 62-43 Southeast Polk.                 Tuesday was also Senior Night, so the seniors from the boys and girls basketball teams were recognized, as were the seniors from the cheer squad. They were announced over the speakers, given ...

Josi Bambrook Columnist               The students in Belger's P.E. class were playing basketball today. As Mr. Belger sat at a semi-functional desk the students enjoyed a game of knock out as other students shot at the hoop on their own. The class was very independent, doing their own thing without needing the correct basketball technique to have a good time.             The game of knock out looked like a lot of fun. The students jumped and ran around while laughing when they missed a shot. The competitiveness looked like a lot of fun and getting exercise was just a plus.             “Yeah, because I beat everyone,” said Abigail Lane.  Friends laughed with each other and shouted across the gym when the ball went out of reach.  The students who were shooting hoops on their own casually talked to their friends and hoped the c...

Pete Ruden Staff Reporter The boys basketball team dropped a game against Dowling on Feburary 3 by a score of 59-33. That game puts the Rams at a record of 5-10 on the season and 1-4 in conference play. The team has room to get better and they know how to carry out the improvements. “[We have to] knock down our shots, don’t take possessions off, play as a team, keep our composure when the other team makes a run,” said junior Chris Henderson, who moved into the starting lineup after the first game of the season. The Rams are currently on a two game skid and looking to get out of that funk. It can be hard to keep focus after a loss, but they are capable of it. “[I keep focused by] not letting the little things affect me, improving on the negatives and using positives as motivation,” Henderson said. After starting the season, Southeast Polk is now starting to find some of the grooves they had to find in order to win some games. For the Dowling game, senior Fernando Cole move...

Ethan Edvenson Cartoonist              Whenever there is a home game for boys and girls varsity basketball, the Southeast Polk Pep Band is almost always called upon to fill the gym with energetic music and tunes from our culture.      “It is a fun break from all the concert music to play some loud rock and pop music,” said junior trumpet player Jared Harrington. Pep band songs range anywhere from 2009’s “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga to 1981’s “Freeze Frame” by the J. Geils Band and “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. With over a hundred students participating in the group, it’s no surprise their melodies can be clearly heard even outside the gym     “I am sad that we don’t get to play my favorite song….the Horse! But it is pretty fun otherwise!” claimed sophomore trumpet player Nick Pifer.              If you want to join Pep band, all you need to do is be a part of another band class. Ho...