By GARY STALLARD
AC Athletics
Somebody’s walking out of Shands Gymnasium on Saturday with a trophy.
No, the Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner basketball teams aren’t finished with their seasons just yet.
But the Great Teacher Tussle of 2018 will play its championship game at half time of the Roadrunner men’s game, and if the preceding contests have been any indication, there’ll be plenty of action on the floor.
Since early January, faculty and staff from various Lufkin Independent School District schools have met at AC for basketball battles for supremacy. On Saturday, the last two teams standing will face off for bragging rights – and a trophy to stand proudly in the schools’ hallways.
The final round will feature members of Burley/Slack against the Brandon/Dunbar squad. Game officials will be LISD superintendent Dr. LaTonya Goffney and board member Hall Henderson.
AC men’s head coach Kyle Manary said the events began as more of an exhibition last season but evolved into real competition simply because the schools had so much fun participating.
“This is a way to show our community how much we appreciate all the hard work these teachers do day in and day out,” Manary said. “It’s a way for all of their students and coworkers to see them outside of the classrooms and cheer them on and support them.
“It’s been an unbelievable experience, and I believe it help brings our next generation of learners closer to their role models and heroes. It’s always about shaping the next generation.”
On Saturday, the team from Burley/Slack will square off against the Brandon/Dunbar squad. Officials will be LISD superintendent LaTonya Goffney and Board of Trustees member Hall Henderson.
The Teacher Tussle title game will take place at half time of the men’s battle with Coastal Bend Community College scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. The Lady Roadrunners face CBCC’s Lady Cougars at 2 p.m. Those games mark the end of the regular season for both AC basketball teams, with the Region XIV conference tournament tipping off Tuesday in Jacksonville.
There will be no admission charge for Saturday’s games for any Lufkin ISD students, parents, faculty and staff.
The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
