This 2023-24 school year has been very different with the new principal, new coaches, and more. The girl’s basketball coach, Coach Kaitlyn Philips, decided to add a new tradition, honoring others with or who had beaten any type of cancer. This game was called “Pink Night”. 

The game was on Nov 17 against Mooresville High School. East fell short and lost 52-28. Philips put a lot of work and planning into this game. Before the varsity game, she had the players give out a rose and a cookie to the player’s chosen person to honor. 

Philips’s inspiration to schedule this game was because of her mom who beat breast cancer. Philips is extremely close with her mother which encouraged Philips to make this game all about her and others who had been beaten or who had any type of cancer. Also, there was a silent auction and all donations went to the Indiana Women in Need Foundation.

To show that it was Pink Night, the girl’s basketball team had pink jerseys that they wore during the game. The night before the game, the team also decorated the gym with many pink balloons and made two signs that were hung up. In addition, the student section theme was to wear pink and watchers of the game could get into it for free if they wore pink.

Pink Night was very important to Coach Philips. She planned this game so it went down perfectly. Philips knew the game was going to be on a Friday, so she was informed that it would be a big crowd. She wanted extra people there and it to be a great night for everyone. 

As the season goes on, Columbus East Girls Basketball will start new traditions. If all goes well, those traditions will work well and keep going!