Like any other Monday, senior Oren Lev could not wait for lunch to start. He counted down the seconds until he heard the bell ring, jumped out of his seat and bolted out of the classroom. He started towards the field house when he saw his friend, senior Sujay Gorti and they began organizing teams for the scrimmage before they even got the basketballs out. Lev and Gorti have been officers of the basketball club since their sophomore year. While they waited for late arrivals, junior Dustin Maenaga, who has never played organized basketball before, approached them.

“Can I play with you guys,” he asked.

Both club officers fervently welcomed Maenga to their game.

“Yeah of course,” Lev said.

After Lev quickly gave him a crash course on shooting, he told him that they only play for fun.

“Okay, I got it,” Maenaga said.

He couldn’t wait for the game to begin, and at the end of the scrimmage, they realized that no one had kept score. Now, only a month later, Maenaga is part of the team.

For members of the club, the field house during their lunch period is more than just a place where people come to play basketball. It is a sanctuary for friends to come together and escape from the rigid structure of school life.

Gorti and Lev, who have been active members of the basketball club since they were freshmen, have taken on officer positions and expanded membership from about 15 to around 50 students in just two years. Now, they are working to preserve the same atmosphere and culture that first attracted them to the club.

During an average lunch period, roughly 20 students participate in basketball club, many in order to and enjoy the company of their friends through the outlet of the sport. The club hosts the MVHS’ popular intramural basketball tournament which occurs in April.

Gorti believes that basketball club is a unique platform for students interested in playing basketball because of the laid back, friendly ambiance. The club’s faculty advisor, Andrew Sturgill, routinely plays basketball with the club’s members and takes part in the banter that goes on during games.

The experience level of the club’s members varies from students who have never played basketball to students who play on MVHS’s varsity basketball team. Gorti believes that this diversity of skill allows the club to become a second home for many students, including Neoman Nouiouat, a senior who regularly plays basketball with the club.

“I actually met a lot of my friends through basketball club,” Nouiouat said.“Now we hang out and play basketball everyday.”

Gorti learned almost everything he knows from his involvement in the club. He has dramatically improved his dribbling and shooting skills during his involvement. Although the club caters to students of all skill levels, Gorti believes that basketball club can help everyone even the most experienced players, develop their skills.

However, Lev, who was already an experienced player going into his freshman year, also believes that the club has helped him improve at basketball.

“I did not really improve at basketball from basketball club in terms of skill,” Lev said, “but I learned to become a better team player.”