The Pink Ribbon Game is so much more than winning a basketball game to the Knights. It’s about the people around them and supporting and loving

them.  The night is not only a big experience for North’s Varsity Basketball players as they face rivals from Francis Howell High, but will also be a big night in the fight against Breast Cancer.

“Pink ribbon night is always a meaningful night with the team,”  junior guard Katie Turnbeaugh said.  “We get to play our rivals while raising awareness and money for cancer.  We dedicate the way we play to all survivors and or patients.”

At half time, a ceremony will be held for the players to recognize survivors or affected patients who they choose to support.  The team has made paper jerseys with the persons name on it  and a little statement as to why they picked them as their hero for the evening.  The paper jerseys will be distributed to the honorees who are present at the game.

“As a group of high school students a lot of times they get a lot of negative publicity,”  coach Dawn Hahn said.  “A lot of times I tell people I teach high schoolers and they’re like ‘oh my gosh, how do you do that?’  I want people to get a different side of what high school kids can be like.  They’re  giving, loving and understand other people.”

The girls varsity basketball squad has been super excited for this night to come.  The team has pre-sold t-shirts and have come up with other ways to raise money in the stands during the game.  All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

“I like the atmosphere and the cause,” junior guard Maci May said.  “It’s an annual thing we can all get together for and look forward to!”

This game is about much more than just a simple basketball game.  This game is about letting the community of highschool kids give back to the community that needs support.

“My great aunt had breast cancer. She is a past survivor,”  junior guard Austine Pauley said.  “This will help me play better because it’ll push me and I feel like I’m playing for more than just a win but for a purpose.”

Many of the Basketball players know a cancer patient.  This is the one night they get to share with everyone their support against cancer and give to others who are fighting the battle.

“My grandma is a breast cancer survivor,” said Turnbeaugh.  “She is always supportive in everything I do.  She comes to all of my sporting events, so having her there influences me to play the best I possibly can.  I do it for her.”

The game seventh annual Pink Ribbon game will be held Friday, February 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the Howell North gymnasium.  The team would also want you to know “Don’t forget to wear pink!”

“Im super excited that we get another chance against Howell and that we will have a bigger crowd than normal,” said Pauley.