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From the WHSTheRebellion.com website:

This Friday, March 5th, Mr. St. Martin and the basketball team will hold their second dance party  from 7:30 to 11:00 in the gym.  The goal for this one is to get 500 students to attend, about 200 more than the last one, which was also successful.  There will be lots of fun, food and dancing, as well as Club T deejaying once again.  Tickets are $10.00 each and, if the goal of 500 students in attendance is achieved, the team will reach their target of $5,000. If anyone would like to help, St. Martin also said that food and drink donations are always appreciated. With all the promoting and planning St. Martin and the basketball team have done, the dance is sure to be another hit, so don’t miss out.

One of the main reasons St. Martin decided to plan another event was because of the positive feedback he got after the first dance. ”Everyone that came to the first one had a good time, and there were also several students who wanted to come to the first one but couldn’t” said St. Martin.  This will give all students another chance to join in on the fun. These dances are also something new for Walpole High, which in the past has only had dances that require semi-formal attire like the Winter Ball and prom.  At a time like this, when high school sports are in between seasons, the basketball dance parties gives students something different and fun to do on the weekend while “keep[ing] the kids out of trouble”, said St. Martin. 

Much work goes into planning and putting on an awesome dance like this upcoming one. The boys and girls booster programs help to organize, and then St. Martin plans it.  Parents also volunteer to chaperone outside.  St. Martin said that the word is spread about the dance through students to go and have fun.

Although the dance is a big fundraiser for the basketball team, they also do other things to keep the ball rolling.  Every year, for example, the team holds a carwash, runs a few events during Walpole Day, and sells a basketball program book, profits of which are given to the team. 

Unlike several other events at the high school, students cannot at this time get into the dance free with privileges; however, that is something that St. Martin said that he would consider for next year, even though the dance serves as a fundraiser for the team.  This might attract even more students to attend these fun dances in the future.

Friday’s dance sounds like a lot of fun, and if it is anything like the last one the basketball team held, there is no doubt that students should have a great time.  Here is hoping that St. Martin and the team can reach their goal of 500 students, and that every last one of them has a great night.

Read “Come Dance The Night Away With Basketball Team Tomorrow Night” on the whstherebellion.com website

From the WHSTheRebellion.com website:

Since day one, Walpole Rebels Girls Basketball has fought against adversity. After losing so many star seniors on the ‘09 team, the team had to rebuild and “reload” all year long, finding ways to maintain the winning status they have had for many years. Despite all of the challenges of the 2010 season, the Lady Rebels still managed to earn a tournament berth, and even defeat their first round opponents, Holliston. Unfortunately, after coming so far, the Rebels season finally came to an end last Thursday as the Oliver Ames Tigers defeated Walpole 59-44.

Although the rest of the game did not fare well for the Rebels, the first quarter was dominated by the Rebels as they put up 15 points to Oliver Ames’ 11. Making good passes and draining shots allowed the early domination. A three pointer to end the quarter gave the Rebels the momentum going into the second quarter, but it would not last.

Three straight Oliver Ames lay-ups started the second quarter, catapulting the Tigers from a four point deficit to a one point lead. A drive to the hoop by senior captain Brooke Waite and a jump shot by senior captain Molly Grimes got the Rebels back on board in the quarter. Two more OA lay-ups continued their run and put the score at 26-21 with 2 minutes left in the half. A three pointer by Grimes off a senior Liz Malone steal brought the deficit to two. However, the Tigers were able to put 3 more points on the board with a lay-up and a foul shot to put the score at 30-25 going into halftime.

The third quarter revealed a new sense of energy in the Tigers team as they came up putting lay-up after lay-up on the board. Two foul shots and a lay-up by OA’s Lauren Battista started the run for the Tigers. Despite drives by Waite and Grimes, OA’s lead stretched as good shot opportunities were presenting themselves for the Tigers. The quarter ended with the Tigers holding onto a comfortable, 42-32 lead.

A lay-up by senior Christine Carty and a three point play by Grimes halved the Tigers lead, but that quick run was as close as Walpole could get for the rest of the quarter. Halfway through the quarter OA was still up 47-39, with Battista making shot after shot. After several OA foul shots in the final minutes, the Tigers put an end to the Rebel season with the score at 59-44.

Despite such a discouraging loss for a hard-working Rebel team, the season was hard-fought, battling through injuries and the replacement of players. The 2010 Rebels can enjoy the legacy they left behind—no team should back down to the adversity a new season may present.

Read “Tigers conquer the Rebels 59-44 to end tourney run” on the whstherebellion.com website