By Lucy Stoter

News Editor

    Hoping to raise money and grow the involvement within the community, R.J. Reynolds High School’s Key Club has decided to put on a 2v2 basketball tournament on November 1st at the Herman W. Bryson Gymnasium. Key Club has the goal of building strong leaders through service and community activities, making the tournament a significant contributor to that initiative. Many teams are signed up to play already, building anticipation and excitement. 

    “I just think that having an opportunity to raise money for Key Club, as well as a fun and entertaining activity to be a part of, is going to be super beneficial to gaining members and having a good time,” junior Key Club Treasurer Charlie Zaks said. 

    The tournament is going to serve as more than just a fun Saturday activity. Each team has paid $30 to be a part of the tournament, raising lots of money for the club. With the raised funds, the club hopes to invest the money back into their community. The money raised is going to Crisis Control Ministry– a ministry focused on providing financial support to those in the community facing poverty– after the $250 prize is allotted to the winning team. 

    “The proceeds from this event will be used to support and expand our upcoming canned food drive that aims to help serve underprivileged members of our community,” President of Key Club Briggs Brown said. “The canned food drive we will host, with the help of the funds raised from this event, reflects that mission of promoting both community service and student participation.”

    Hoping to build student involvement, Key Club has opened the tournament to any student interested in participating. Juniors Annie Thompson and Maddy Acker were the first girls’ team to sign up. They’re playing under the team name “Annie T gonna get you” and have a first-round bye as an incentive for being the first girls’ team to sign up. 

    “I’m very excited to get to raise money for a cause and play with Maddy against some of my friends who are in Key Club,” Thompson said. “It is also something spontaneous, and being the first girls’ team is very exciting.”

    With the tournament being open to everyone, there is a wide range of experience among the groups. Some participants have never played basketball, while others have been playing their whole lives.

    “In fourth grade, I played for my church league,” Thompson said. “My teammate does have a lot of prior experience, though; she played for Reynolds her freshman year.”  

    While their team may not be full of experience, others are. William Martin and Zak’s team, in particular, have a lot of talent to offer. 

    “We already have a lot of chemistry,” Zaks said. “I am the stereotypical corner sitter, and I make a lot of three-point shots. William is a good inside player who plays really good defense and can rebound the ball well. I think we work well together.”

    With growing anticipation and excitement, the teams are beginning to practice and prepare. 

    “I have been practicing basketball, I have been running to get cardio in, and I have been practicing shooting,” Thompson said. 

    The dedication shown by these teams is apparent. With hours of hard work, all of the teams have high hopes for their success. For one team, it will pay off, and the $250 will be theirs to take home.