How The Rivalry Lives on in Hamilton
It’s time to channel your inner John Lennon.
By: Owen Brown
Imagine sitting in your seat at a basketball game, and in every direction you look, there isn’t an empty seat. Imagine looking down and seeing players run back and forth, making huge shots to make it a close game. Imagine your seat shaking from two student sections jumping up and down, screaming their lungs out, and trying to rip the other team apart. This was the environment during the Hamilton, Holland Christian boys basketball game Friday night.
Besides the state tournament, two of Hamilton’s most important games are the regular season matchups against Holland Christian. Hamiton went 1-2 in the series against Holland Christian. On January 24, Hamilton won 57-38. Holland Christian was ready for a fight the next game and beat Hamilton 75-68 in overtime. Later, Holland Christian won 64-54 for the district title.
Many people don’t look deeply into the rivalry between Holland Cristinan and Hamilton. There is a Michigan and Ohio State hatred between these two schools. This game means so much to the players. Being able to beat a rival is huge for the school. Many players take it personally, and it always seems players play their best in these rivalries.
Both players and fans can notice that this isn’t just a game. There is hate deep down. Coaches are noticing this as well, and they are preparing extra hard for this game by even coming up with game plans for one singular player for the opposing team.
“There is a lot of different preparation for Holland Christian. We have to switch up the game plan to stop Titus Spencer.” Jack Charlson claimed.
“The environment is very different. It is a lot more intense, and people show up because of the rivalry.” Charlson said on the night of these games.
The players aren’t the only ones playing, the student sections are as well. Student sections shine when they are in a gym. Everything is heard, and sections tear each other apart to try to prove who is better. The first meeting between the two teams was in Hamilton.
It all started with the Holland Christian.
The student section yelled, “Holland, Christian!” This was only thirty seconds in the first period. Every chant in the game depends on what the other team is doing on the court.
When Holland Christian fouled one of our guys, Hamilton screamed, “You can’t do that!” This was said five times just in the third period.
“Hawkeye Defense!” This was Hamilton’s most common chant across the gym.
Positive or negative, the chant is going to be said.
Holland Christian yelled, “Hit the weight Room!”
This was after Titus Spencer made a shot and got fouled.
After a foul call followed by an uproar from the fans, the Holland Christian student section yelled, “Take his whistle!”
(Hamilton Student section riled after scoring.)
There are many calls that the student section disagrees with. But in the end, a team lands on top.
“I believe that we will win!” chants always ring through the gym. Showing that your school’s team is better than yours. At this moment in the game, the opposing school students are never impressed. Students put their heads down and walk out with shame.
The feeling doesn’t go away right away. This adds to the hatred between the schools. The feeling makes you want to beat the opposing team even more than before.
At the Civic Center was a whole different story. In every direction you look, there are people. Students and parents were yelling out. Most of the night, Hamilton was up, and the student section and parents were electric.
In the fourth period, that all changed. With double digits ahead for Hamilton, the wheels fell off. Scoring very low points all period for Hamilton. Holland Christian came back to push the game into overtime. A lot of people thought Hamilton had the win. Hamilton and Holland Christian students thought so, too. That attitude changed very fast.
Holland Christian made some huge shots to push the game into overtime. The gym was so loud that you could barely hear the referees blowing whistles. Holland Christian hit some major shots, and Hamilton couldn’t return the same amount of energy.
“I believe that we will win!” Holland Christian yelled out across the gym.
Holland Christian pulled ahead in the last period, making Hamilton students not leave the gym in a good mood.
With district play, Hamilton and Holland Christian both won their games and had the district final game on Friday. With the Hamilton hosting, the gym was just as loud and more full of people than usual. The gym was shaking. Holland Christian pulled out ahead, and that was the name of the game. Hamilton made some shots to get within a few points but never caught up. Holland Christian, winning 64-54, ended them on top for the season.
The hatred between the two schools is on a whole different level. People think they know what the energy is like between schools, but you don’t know until you actually go to a game. The Rivalry will thrive, and the competitiveness between the schools will not end anytime soon.