When most people think of cheerleaders they would probably picture elaborate halftime routines and encouraging chants, but Lambert Basketball Cheer goes far beyond that. Unlike other forms of cheer, Basketball cheer involves more dancing and having greater interaction with spectators because they are closer to the stands. These athletes dedicate hours of practicing their routines and building their teamwork to ensure they bring their best performance to every game.
Basketball cheer requires hard work and dedication, with practices held twice a week starting in September and continuing into November. During these practices, the cheerleaders spend time learning and perfecting their routines, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the team and showing off Lambert’s impeccable school spirit.
“People don’t realize that cheerleading has a lot of work put into it, but I feel like there is,” basketball cheerleader and sophomore Saanvi Chinta said. “We practiced every week until the season started.”
Beyond just cheerleading, the team has built a strong sense of community. Through games, practices, group chats and occasional team bonding events, their friendships have grown and play a major role in the cheerleading experience. Senior and basketball cheerleader, Ta’najha Kirkland, values the relationships she shares with the team. Specifically, she enjoys making new friends every season and hanging out with the team after games.
“The two years I’ve been on the team, there have been different people,” Kirkland highlighted. “So I have a good opportunity to make friends and build new relationships.”
Aside from just cheering at the basketball games, the cheerleaders also play a role in school-wide events like Lambert’s most recent winter pep rally. At the pep rally, they performed one of their routines during halftime and threw Lambert themed t-shirts into the stands, encouraging all of the students to show off their Longhorn pride.
Furthermore, being involved in basketball cheer is demanding. Basketball Cheer requires quick decisions and complete awareness.
“I like keeping up with the boys to get the right cheers, which is kind of challenging,” Kirkland said. “You have to be on top of your game whenever you’re cheering and have to pay attention to every move that they make.”
Players move very quickly, so cheerleaders must react to quick-changing plays on the court. Cheerleaders also must stay focused, to avoid calling cheers that don’t fit the moment. Fast-paced games can be stressful, making it difficult to maintain consistency throughout the whole game, but these incredible cheerleaders know how to handle it.
Basketball cheer serves as an asset to Lambert through their dedication and strong school spirit. These cheerleaders work tirelessly during the basketball season to support the team and energize the crowd. Their presence at games and school events helps unite the school body and strengthen Lambert’s sense of community.
