THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 41, NO. 30 | MARCH 13, 2020
REVAMPED REVS GAME ENDS IN A THRILLER Photos by Lori Wood Habiger
t St. James senior J.D. Reece guards against St. James chaplain Father Mark Ostrowski in the Running with the Revs basketball game on March 9 at St. James Academy. t Father Justin Hamilton, associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, runs off the court in celebration after a buzzer-beating layup by teammate Brian Jacobson gave his team a 58-57 win.
By Todd Habiger todd.habiger@theleaven.org
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ENEXA — Nuns on the court. Cheerleaders shooting free throws. Even $100 3pointers. What in the name of LeBron James is going on here? Welcome to the all-new, all-different Running with the Revs basketball game. The annual game, sponsored by the Serra Club to promote vocations and benefit seminarians, underwent a major change this year — namely, priests and students are now playing on the same team. The change was well-received and the action on the court was top-notch. “I think with the new format, the new place (St. James Academy, Lenexa) and the new crowd, there was an increased energy,” said Father Dan Morris, archdiocesan vocations director. “The way the game ended up going — that close, tight game — I could see both teams and the crowd getting into it and feeding into that. That’s what I call a success.” Seminarian Brian Jacobson enjoyed the new format as well. “It was fun. I feel like I got to know the kids better. I know for me, when I was thinking about the seminary, playing basketball with the seminarians was one of the ways I related to them. It was more personal. We weren’t against them, we were with them, so I liked that,” he said. Before the game, an anonymous donor offered $50 for each 3-point shot made.
Soon after the game started, another donor offered to match that amount, resulting in $100 being donated per 3-pointer. More than 10 3-pointers were made on the night. What the team names lacked in originality — Team Black versus Team White? Come on, man — they made up for in excitement on the court. Team White, coached by St. James head basketball coach Stan Dohm, looked like they might run away >> See “NEW” on page 4
t Church of the Nativity eighth-grader Aidan Ryan pulls up for a threepointer against Team Black. Two anonymous donors pledged $50 for each 3-pointer made. More than 10 treys were made during the game, raising more than $1,000 for seminarians.