So far this year, Kingsley has been jumping! Students at SCH have been packing the student section at every home game, whether it’s on a Friday or Monday night. SCH is starting the 2025-2026 season on fire with a record of 6-1 and wins over Rocktop, Friends’ Central, Germantown Friends, Archbishop Wood, Plymouth Whitemarsh, and Cardinal O’Hara. Here is what players, coaches, and students have to say about the thriving student section.
Senior varsity center and starter Stewart Greenleaf was asked, “How do you feel as a player that the student sections are still packed on Monday nights?”Stewart responded, “It’s great having more people in the gym, a higher energy in the gym, fuels you as a player, it makes you play harder, faster, and stronger.” Stewart became a starter for the Devils last season and instantly became a fan favorite. He enters the game to a loud “Steeewwww” shout from the students and brings the energy through his ability to make the right play and physicality.
Senior varsity guard Joe Flach, unfortunately, has started his senior season sidelined, but has gained a different perspective, having to sit out and really feel the thunderous student section in every game. According to Joe Flach, people come to the games because, “The environment inside the arena is very loud, and the people enjoy it compared to other games where it’s outside… I feel like we should get lights for the football and lacrosse stadiums because then students will want to create a student section, and instead of a game at 1 PM on Saturday, it would be 7 PM on a Friday.” He argues that the main reason for the increased number of students at basketball games compared to others is the lack of lights at SCH’s fields and that, because the basketball games take place at night, students are usually done with their other activities, so they have time to show up and support the Devils. Joe believes that if the football and lacrosse fields had lights, more students would want to come to the games because the nighttime environment is next level.
Joe was also asked, “What role do theme nights play in the students coming to the games?” He responded, “The students have something to look forward to, and it shows that each student can be connected in the section compared to showing up wearing their normal fits.” Theme nights have been a new addition to SCH basketball games this year, as there used to be only one, but now there are nine total theme nights. So far this season, students have worn all red for coach Mike Brown and ALS awareness night versus Rocktop, all white versus Friends’ Central, and a beach theme for the recent win versus Plymouth Whitemarsh. Students coming to the games in the same color/theme of clothes creates a more bonded environment inside the student section, leading to more involvement and something SCH basketball has not had before.
Class of 2019 graduate and assistant varsity basketball coach Jake Webster was asked, “What advantages do the students showing up to the game give to the players?” Coach Web stated, “Kingsley is the best home court advantage in the city when the student section shows up.” This has proven correct so far this season, as with their win against PW on December 5, the Devils moved to 4-0 at home this season. The atmosphere this season seems unexpected, as the new addition of a sanctioned student section has been established to help contain the rowdy and noisy crowd.
Lastly, student section leader Kyle Cameron, infamous for his “you can’t do that” chant, had this to say about the reason for packed-out games so far this season: “I think our seniors are really into it this year, and it helps having lots of night games this year.” The basketball team is full of seniors this year, with a total of seven seniors (Stewart Greenleaf, Jules Sanders, AJ Trunfio, Joe Flach, Alex Ormond, Owen Kelly, and Nick Simon (manager)). This senior power has really been embracing their last year on the court by bringing the energy to every game. SCH boys basketball had a great schedule of games this year, as they’ve already had two Friday night games, and the revamped SCH student section has brought life to the Kingsley once again.
