Every year, it’s a race between seniors class to get to school first and be able to snag one of the spots in the parking lot that are reserved for seniors. This results in them arriving at Community as early as seven in the morning just to get a spot. In past senior classes, students have spent the 30 minutes before school sitting in solitude, scrolling on their phones and staying confined within the doors of their cars. The class of 2026 has started their senior year differently, though, by spending their time before school together. This all started with one game: basketball. Around a month into the school year, a small group of students began playing basketball on the court of Community’s back lawn, playing against each other in scrimmages and other fun games like lightning. It all started with two CHS seniors: Nina Beals and Tia Cocciolone.
“The parking situation is just so bad that you have to get to school every morning super early, and I just hate sitting in my car for that long doing nothing,” Cocciolone said. “Nina and I were like, what the heck, let’s play basketball.”
After a day or two of playing by themselves, they soon attracted a crowd. Sam Magee, a Huron Varsity Basketball player, was one of the first to join Beals and Cocciolone.
“It started when I was sitting in my friend’s car one day before school, and we saw Nina and Tia running outside with a blue basketball,” Magee said. “So we just started playing against them. And then more and more people started to join in, and soon it just became a normal thing to do every morning.”
Within a week or two, the group started averaging upwards of 10 people a day. Some days are slower than others: a couple of seniors were running late and didn’t manage to snag a spot, or the recent rainy weather prevented them from playing. Despite these conditions, basketball has stayed constant.
Along with the players, you can usually find a small crowd gathered on the edges of the court to watch and cheer on their friends. Sometimes they lay out a blanket, and other times they just take advantage of the community and catch up with friends.
In addition to the players and fans, many teachers and students alike pause to watch the games while walking into the school. Brian Williams, CHS counselor, stands at the school’s back entrance greeting students and makes a point every morning to ask the seniors which team won that day as they enter the building.
“It’s a wholesome feeling to watch them play,” Williams said. “It’s a nice energy start to the morning.”
New traditions are formed at Community every year, and many wonder if this new activity will catch on. Jack Lewis, a senior who is seen almost every day on the court, thinks there are a couple of ways for the class to continue to bond throughout the year.
“I think we can switch an indoor game, or basketball could be a seasonal thing, and that’s okay too,” Lewis said. “I definitely think that connecting with the seniors throughout the year is a great idea, though.”
What began as a simple way to pass the time before school has quickly grown into something much more meaningful for the class of 2026. With just one basketball, a new morning tradition was born.
However the seniors choose to continue to bond as a grade, and the spirit and impact left behind are what matter most. In a stressful period full high school, these seniors have created a space of joy, nostalgia and community. This act shows that sometimes the best traditions come naturally and unexpectedly.
