RIGHT NOW. TONIGHT, TWO RIVALS FACED OFF AT WELLS FARGO ARENA, BUT EVERYONE SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PERRY BLUE JAYS. IT’S THE TEAM’S FIRST GAME SINCE A DEADLY SCHOOL SHOOTING TOOK THE LIVES OF A YOUNG BOY, AND THE HIGH SCHOOL’S PRINCIPAL EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND THE COMMUNITY IS STILL TRYING TO COPE WITH WHAT HAPPENED BACK ON JANUARY FOURTH. TONIGHT IS A BIG STEP IN THE HEALING PROCESS FOR SOME IN THE PERRY COMMUNITY. vlog’S JEFF DUBROF IS AT THE WELL FOR US TONIGHT. IT’S A SIGHT THE PERRY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LONGING FOR. THEIR BASKETBALL TEAMS TAKING THE COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT TRAGIC. JANUARY 4TH DAY. WELL, IT MEANS EVERYTHING STUDENTS ARE ONCE AGAIN PLAYING THE GAME. THEY LOVE CARRYING WITH THEM. THOSE. THEY LOVE. I SAY IT MEANT EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW, WE HAD RIBBONS ON OUR SHOES FOR MR. MARBURGER AND BOATS ON OUR HAIR FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. WE FROM THE STANDS, FANS WATCHED ON, DRESSED FROM HEAD TO TOE IN BLUE, A RIBBON PINNED TO THEIR CHEST. ALL 50 CONCESSIONS WERE BUSY IN THE STUDENT SECTION WAS PACKED. IT FELT LIKE A NORMAL BASKETBALL GAME. IT WAS ANYTHING BUT 49 SECONDS BEHIND THIS WAS A CHANCE TO HONOR THOSE THEY LOST A CHANCE TO OFFER A DISTRACTION, EVEN IF FOR JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS, ONE BASKET AT A TIME. I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE FEELING OF HOPE AS WE GO THROUGH THAT HEALING PROCESS. I THINK THEY SEE HOPE, AND THAT’S WHAT WE GOT TO HAVE. EVERY DAY IS GOING TO BE A NEW STEP, AND EVERY DAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE. AND SO WE’RE JUST GOING TO KIND OF MOVE FORWARD AND AND AGAIN, ONE DAY AT A TIME AND, AND BE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE CAN OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY. AND ON THIS NIGHT. WHEN THE CLOCK HIT ZERO, THE FINAL SCORE WAS THE LAST THING ON ANYBODY’S MIND. IT WAS JUST SO FUN. I MEAN, TO BE HERE WITH MY TEAMMATES AND TO GET AND PLAY IN FRONT OF THIS MANY PEOPLE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR TEAM BACK AGAIN. EVEN THOUGH IT’S BEEN SO LONG AND RUN THE FLOOR, EVEN THOUGH WE’RE NOT IN THE BEST SHAPE. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PLAYED OUR PLAYED OUR BEST TONIGHT AND THAT’S WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO DO.
Returning to the court brings some normalcy for Perry basketball teams
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Updated: 10:11 PM CST Jan 16, 2024
The Perry High School basketball teams returned to action Tuesday for the first time since a deadly school shooting this month. A 17-year-old Perry student opened fire in the cafeteria shared by middle and high school students before school Jan. 4, killing sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff and wounding seven others. High school principal Dan Marburger, among those wounded, died 10 days later of his injuries. Dylan Butler, the shooter, also died that morning of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.Students have not yet returned to class at Perry schools, but extracurricular activities for middle and high school students resumed Tuesday. The Perry girls kicked off the varsity doubleheader against Saydel at Wells Fargo Arena. This was a night for students to finally get back to playing the game they love while honoring those they lost."It meant everything," said Perry senior Callie Steva. "We wore ribbons on our shoes for Mr. Marburger and bows in our hair for the community."Perry district superintendent Clark Wicks is hoping this night was the first steps of healing."I think people are starting to get the feeling of hope as we go through this healing process," said Wicks. "I think they see hope and that's what we have to have."Perry basketball coach David Morris: Returning to court brings some normalcyMore coverage of Perry, Iowa school shooting:Ahmir Jolliff: Sixth-grader killed in Perry school shooting remembered as a joyful boy'Ahmir was a star:' Father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joyVisitation, funeral information for slain Perry sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Family of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler releases public statementPhotos of Ahmir Jolliff, 11-year-old boy killed in Perry, Iowa school shooting'That's what scouts do:' Perry Boy Scout troop organizes teddy bear drive for elementary studentsQuestions linger about Perry school shooter's motive, where he got firearmsNebraska senator after Iowa school shooting: Give schools option of arming employeesAuthorities identify 17-year-old shooter who killed 1, wounded 7 in Perry school shootingFamilies recount terrifying moments from inside Perry High School during deadly shootingPolice on massive response to Perry High School: 'No community is immune'Iowa leaders, elected officials react to Perry High School shootingDispatch recordings provide timeline of Perry High School shooting in Iowa'May this vigil be a beacon of light': Hundreds gather at Perry park to pray and mourn as a communityFamilies of Sandy Hook victims release statement on Perry High School shootingWATCH: Remembering Ahmir Jolliff: Hundreds turn out for Perry sixth-grader's visitation'Ahmir was a star:' Biological father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joyPerry Boy Scouts have collected thousands of teddy bears for local students 'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Parents of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler release public statement
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Perry High School basketball teams returned to action Tuesday for the first time since a deadly school shooting this month.
A 17-year-old Perry student opened fire in the cafeteria shared by middle and high school students before school Jan. 4, killing sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff and wounding seven others. High school principal Dan Marburger, among those wounded, died 10 days later of his injuries.
Dylan Butler, the shooter, also died that morning of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.
Students have not yet returned to class at Perry schools, but extracurricular activities for middle and high school students resumed Tuesday.
The Perry girls kicked off the varsity doubleheader against Saydel at Wells Fargo Arena. This was a night for students to finally get back to playing the game they love while honoring those they lost.
"It meant everything," said Perry senior Callie Steva. "We wore ribbons on our shoes for Mr. Marburger and bows in our hair for the community."
Perry district superintendent Clark Wicks is hoping this night was the first steps of healing.
"I think people are starting to get the feeling of hope as we go through this healing process," said Wicks. "I think they see hope and that's what we have to have."
Perry basketball coach David Morris: Returning to court brings some normalcy
More coverage of Perry, Iowa school shooting:
WATCH: Remembering Ahmir Jolliff: Hundreds turn out for Perry sixth-grader's visitation
'Ahmir was a star:' Biological father of 11-year-old Perry shooting victim wants son's life to bring joy
Perry Boy Scouts have collected thousands of teddy bears for local students
'Trying to make sense out of the senseless': Parents of Perry school shooter Dylan Butler release public statement
