The air in the gymnasium was thick with excitement. There was a quiet stillness as the ball traveled through the air, creating a path to the basket. A minute remained on the clock in the fourth quarter. The moment seemed to freeze as the players and fans from each team held their breaths in anticipation. This shot could be a turning point in the game.
As the ball swished through the net, the moment came undone as the Waverly fans exploded. The score was now 42-42 with 50 seconds remaining in the game. Now the Trojans had the ball.
This excitement is not found in all games but is very common in rivalries. Sports rivalries take on different forms, fueled by unique reasons that make spectating thrilling. Many rivalries are rooted in deep emotion, bringing the competition to a higher level. But sometimes, rivalries get taken too far.
Going into any event, an athlete’s main concern should be their performance, not a fear of violence.
This year, the girls’ basketball team played Waverly for the first time at home on Dec 20, 2024, winning 61-47. Following the end of the game, an altercation broke out between two adults, one from each school.
A moment following a big win like that is supposed to be about celebration, but instead, it became about violence. Moments like these don’t just affect the players, but can also show that rivalries bleed into the stands.
In order to maintain a safe atmosphere for both players and spectators, ELPHS Athletic Director, Nikki Norris, worked with the Waverly Athletic Department to implement extra precautions for the Feb. 6 rematch. The added security included police presence, eliminated handshakes after the game and reiterated that there would be no tolerance for inappropriate behavior.
Sydney Black (10), a varsity player who attended Waverly until sixth grade, wasn’t fearful but knew the atmosphere would be intense.
“I wasn’t really afraid, I knew that Fisher and Louise, all the rest of the security was gonna be there,” Black said. “But playing at Waverly, a lot of people come to watch.”
While she never played on their high school team, she still knows many of the players.
“A lot of them are my cousins,” Black said. “But when I play them, I leave it on the court and I don’t know them.”
In the second game, the final minute flew by. Waverly missed two crucial free throws. Then, Black was fouled. Though she missed her first, her second shot sunk, bringing the score to 43-42. Finally, at 32 seconds remaining, Aniaya Mendenhall (12) made a free throw, securing the two-point victory for her team.
Mendenhall transferred to East Lansing this year after attending Waverly her entire life. She feels the transition to the ELHS team went smoothly.
“I feel like moving was pretty easy,” Mendenhall said. “Here, [ELHS] the team is more of a family, and I have a better connection with my team here.”
Still, Mendenhall acknowledges that it is especially tough to play against a team that she knows so well.
“Sometimes it is hard,” Mendenhall said. “When I see [Waverly] doing something that I know they can do better as a team, I want to tell them, ‘Y’all can do it better,’ but I can’t.”
Going into the second game, Mendenhall felt like a ball of nerves, but the team helped level her so she could play her game.
“As the game went on, it got more intense. People that knew me there were cheering against me,” Mendenhall said. “But my team was there and they helped me calm down.”
Mendenhall knows that playing Waverly is a big deal for the entire team. The game against Waverly is unlike the rest, as they are not just playing for their team, but for everyone who came to East Lansing from Waverly.
“I feel like there is a lot of emotion while playing,” Mendenhall said. “My team knows that it’s a big deal for us to win against them because there’s always something to prove.”
