The Father Barry Gymnasium has never been this loud.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, all of Jesuit High School Sacramento rallied behind their faculty and staff for the Teachers vs. Students basketball game. To close the annual Winter Sports Rally, the final two teams of the intramural basketball tournament took on 8 members of Jesuit’s faculty and staff.

After rushing out to a quick 7-1 lead, the Students hit a cold stretch and eventually fell 13-10 to the Teachers in overtime. JV Basketball Coach Eddie Ralph helped command this comeback, but his impact didn’t come without some physicality. 

Early in the game, Coach Ralph committed a hard foul on a Cade Colombara ’25 drive to the hoop, sending him airborne. Coach Ralph was called for a technical foul and apparently tossed from the game, but subbed back in shortly after.

“Coach Ralph shouldn’t have been in the game,” said Danny O’Donoghue ’25. “It was a blatant foul and [should have been an] ejection. And he came back in. Honestly, there should be no room for that.”

But for Coach Ralph, physicality is just a part of winning basketball. 

“You gotta set a tone early in a game, so if you can set the tone early with a big hard foul, I think that’s an important move.” Coach Ralph said. “I didn’t think it was technical-worthy.”

Despite the adversity, the Teachers kept the energy high and began to mount a comeback following a high IQ substitution.

“I think the real momentum came off the bench for Mr. Trivits,” said Jack Buri ’25. “I think he brought all of the defensive energy and the movement and the understanding of the game of basketball.”

With Mr. Trivits holding down the defensive end, substitute Mr. Aaron Mazibuko kickstarted the offense and the crowd’s favor began to shift towards the Teachers.

“Honestly, I was a little shocked and surprised at how they really wanted the Teachers to win,” Mr. Mazibuko said. “I thought they would be rooting for the students.”

And with the Students continuing to misfire on the long-ball, the Teachers found a way back into this game, one layup at a time.

“We made layups,” Coach Ralph said. “We were not making layups early and I was a part of that. We had a lot of opportunities around the rim, and just couldn’t finish. But in the second half, we definitely made our layups around the rim, and that gave us the opportunities we needed to win.”

Mr. Mazibuko found all 7 of his points around the basket, clawing the Teachers back to a tie game at 8-8. On the next possession, with 17 seconds left, Water Polo Varsity Head Coach Josh Ford sank a free throw to give the Teachers a one-point advantage. With the crowd in their ears, the Teachers in their faces, and their lead now gone, the Students found the net on the other end. 

9-9. Overtime.

The Students were quick to retake the lead in the extra period, but it wouldn’t last. After three tough attempts at the rim, the ball found Coach Ralph on the defensive rebound. Then, in transition, he pulled up for three, and the gym fell silent.

Splash. And the bleachers erupted.

“It felt right; I was in rhythm,” Coach Ralph said. “I felt like I had a chance to win it, so I said, ‘if we hit this three here, we might win the game.’ Might as well shoot it and see what happens from there.”

The Teachers never lost this lead, defeating the Students 13-10. You never know what might happen at the Jesuit Winter Sports Rally.