Saint Leo University hosted more than 500 local students at the inaugural School Day Slam, a special matinee men’s basketball game against Southeast Christian College that started at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Marion Bowman Activities Center in St. Leo. Students from San Antonio Elementary School, St. Anthony’s Catholic School, Academy at the Farm, the Pasco K-8 School and Leesburg Christian School attended. For many of them, it was their first college basketball game.
Saint Leo coach Spencer Henke said the atmosphere was electric. He said his goal was for the students to go home and tell their parents it was the coolest thing ever and that they want to attend more games. Henke said the cheers and smiles he saw suggested that will happen.
Students took part throughout the game. The Saint Leo cheerleaders and school mascot Fritz The Lion led cheers before and during the contest. A light show played on the floor and scoreboard during the starting lineup introductions. Cheerleaders tossed miniature basketballs to the crowd during breaks. Select students and teachers took part in a halftime basketball shooting contest. After the game, Saint Leo players signed autographs for the students.
On the court, Saint Leo scored the game’s first 17 points and won 122-75. Students grew especially loud after each of six dunks by junior forward Jamarcus Brown and another thunderous dunk by a freshman forward.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
