Can teachers stop the red hot Blaze?
The Clinton Blaze and Lady Blaze basketball teams recently completed their 2018 basketball season.
But both teams will be in action Saturday night when they play the second annual exhibition game against the Clinton City Schools teachers.
Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. for the game at Arowood Arena, which will serve as a fundraiser for the Clinton Blaze athletic program. It will also be the first game played on the newly christened E.T. Stamey Court. The court was dedicated late last month after the Blaze and Lady Blaze had completed their respective regular seasons
“This is the second annual game against our teachers and we’re going to use it as a fundraiser for the program,” Clinton City Schools athletic director E.T. Stamey said. “The teachers have been practicing and getting in shape.
“This should be a lot of fun.”
The Blaze boys, who went 11-6 during the recently completed season, will play CCS male faculty and staff in the first quarter. The Lady Blaze, who went 13-4, will play against female teachers and staff in the second quarter.
After halftime, the boys will play the third quarter before the girls conclude the evening’s action.
“We’re going to play one game both the boys and girls will get to play,” Stamey said. “Both teams are basically playing a half.”
The annual game against the teachers is scheduled to be the first of two fundraising exhibition games this month.
The Blaze and Lady Blaze will play the Clinton City Police Department and Firefighters later this month.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 19, but it has been postponed as the first responders are re-doing their work schedules to play.
“The game will be played on a date to be determined,” Stamey said.
“The police and firefighters have been practicing and are looking forward to playing against the kids in the game.
“I know that we’ll play the game sometime in January.”
Track clinic and meet set for April: Clinton High School will host a track clinic for the Blaze on April 18 at the newly-renovated Clinton Football Stadium.
The camp will be run and instructed by the Dragons track coaching staff and athletes and Stamey noted that the elementary school athletes would compete in a meet following the clinic.