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Editor’s note: Thanks to Mountain Brook High senior Olivia Burton for composing this article about the energy surrounding this week’s AHSAA state championship matchup and the importance of Spartan Swag. Go Spartans!
“Electric” was the word Principal Amanda Hood used to describe the energy of the neon-clad, sunglasses-wearing student section supporting the Mountain Brook Spartans basketball team during last season’s finals.
Certainly, the atmosphere in the Mountain Brook community is electric again today as the Spartans, led by Coach Bucky McMillan, prepare to take on Carver-Montgomery in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Final Four at the BJCC at 1:30 this afternoon hoping for a shot at consecutive AHSAA 6A State Championships.
Those who attended last year’s championship game remember the blinding sea of neon t-shirts that made up Mountain Brook’s student section, which included students from the junior high and elementary schools as well as the high school. Embracing the idea of “Spartan Swag,” thousands of Mountain Brook community members are expected to flood the BJCC Arena again this afternoon to support the team.
“It is absolutely overwhelming to be a part of such a strong student section,” said senior Catherine Kinney. “You can actually feel the emotion of the crowd. And when we win, the sheer joy is unreal. We are all so proud to be Mountain Brook Spartans, no matter the outcome.”
Spartan Swag refers not only to the mentality of the fans but also to the fearless, hardworking mentality of the team itself, regardless of circumstances.
“The mentality of the team is just to play unselfishly, as hard as we can, and fearlessly like we try to do every game, no matter if its in the Final Four or the first game of the year,” senior guard Matthew Weissman said.
Neon green has become an unofficial school color during basketball season thanks to the T-shirts worn by the student section. The shirts are usually distributed at the games by the Spartan Cage Club, and with the excitement over the Spartans’ advancement to the Final Four, Mountain Brook Sporting Goods has already sold out of its stock.
“Neon is a loud color, just like the student section, and the fans need to be loud to help the team win,” senior Wayne Ingram said.
Hood said the neon shirts are a fun way to unite the Mountain Brook community.
“It’s not only visual for us. One of the best things that ever happened was last year when we printed the neon t-shirts, because it not only unified a school, but it also unified a community,” she said. “I think that there’s power in everybody feeling like they can have a small part in something that represents our community in a very positive way.”
Today, Mountain Brook High School students will be dismissed from school at 12:19 p.m. after an abbreviated bell schedule that allows them to attend all of their classes.
“For the most part, teachers are very supportive of us missing school for games as long as we are committed to making up our work,” Kinney said. “I think they recognize how important it is to have an amazing student section.”
Senior guard Will Brewster said he appreciated the student section and was excited for the upcoming game.
“A loud, crazy, obnoxious student section is always an added bonus during the games,” he said. “It’s like having a sixth man who we really feed off of energy-wise.”
The State Championship game is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at the BJCC.
