RSU 10 fans support each other

DIXFIELD -- A community is a group of people having a religion, race, profession, or other particular characteristic in common.

In our community, we have one very important characteristic in common: the love of basketball.

The fan section for the Dirigo boys' basketball team at each of the playoff and championship games over February break consisted of all three schools of RSU #10: Dirigo, Mtn. Valley and Buckfield.

Before the Dirigo boys' Western Maine Championship game, we tallied about half the students in the student section were from Dirigo, and the other half being mostly Mtn. Valley. They were at the both of the Mtn. Valley basketball teams preliminary games as well.

The fan section as seen in the background of a foul shot on TV, or the big, white crowd seen at the game is what makes the Civic Center roar.

With the back and forth chants from both team's cheering sections, it's the competition to be the loudest.

Being a student of that section, the biggest thing is to be original. During the Western Maine Championship game, the Old Orchard Beach Seagulls were the opponents. To distract them during foul shots without being completely rude, one student, Ayla Allen from Mtn. Valley, came up with the idea for everyone to yell "Mine, mine, mine!" randomly just like the seagulls from the movie "Finding Nemo."

The other part is to be louder than the other section. When they're chanting their school name, it's our job to chant ours twice as loud of the same time. Then there's the classic come back with "We can't hear you," but obviously, they can.

Ben Holmes, senior forward of the basketball team, says about the fan section, "They influence the momentum of the game. They get you pumped as well as discouraging the other team."

At the end of the night, we gather in the cafeteria of the Dirigo High School to celebrate the win or loss as one giant community. The Western Maine Foothills coming out to support each other.