Are you a Beaver Area Bobcat basketball fan?

If your answer is yes (and really, who isn’t a fan?), the girls and boys varsity basketball teams hold events during Thanksgiving break to get their seasons started.

Grades 3–12 basketball programs come together every year and host two annual events to get a start to the basketball season.

November 27, the varsity basketball teams hold their annual Maroon and Gray Night. This event has been going on for over 10 years now and has been a successful fundraiser for the varsity teams.

Boys and girls, grades 3–12, play 15 minute games against their own grade. Their coaches separate them into two teams to make the games fairly competitive.

To enter the basketball event, adults pay $5, students pay $3, players and coaches are free, and anyone is welcome.

A big part of the fundraiser for the basketball teams is the concession stand, which will have a variety of food and drinks to enjoy while you’re watching.

Along with the half court shootout and the 3-point contest, there is the 50/50 drawing. If you plan on attending, you will sign up for these events when you arrive.

Think you can sink it from half court? Well, you will pay a dollar for each shot during the 15 minute time slot, and anyone can shoot, even if you are not a basketball player.

However, the 3-point contest is open just to the varsity teams competing against each other. Two players compete at a time on each end of the court to see who can make the most 3-pointers in 45 seconds.

The night starts with third grade boys at 5 p.m., then the third and fourth grade girls combined. Following will be the fourth grade boys at 5:30 p.m, and fifth grade girls at 5:45.

The half court shootout happens at 6 p.m. Shortly after the fifth grade boys play at 6:15, and the sixth grade girls and boys play from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Next will be the seventh grade girls and the eighth grade girls at 7:15 p.m.

Another break will be held for the 3-point contest.

The seventh grade boys then play the eighth grade boys, and the freshman boys play at 7:45 p.m.

The 50/50 drawing will take place at 8 p.m. Winners will be announced in the gym while the prizes will be in the hallway near the concession stand.

Last but not least, the varsity teams will play 20 minute games. The girls varsity plays first at 8 p.m followed by the boys varsity at 8:20 p.m. which concludes the event.

It will be an exciting night, so show your support!

The girls’ varsity team doesn’t get much rest as they will have to be up early Thanksgiving morning to host their eighth annual Turkey Trot 5K race in downtown Beaver. The race is open to all ages.

The race starts at 9 a.m. on Market Street in Beaver by Irvine Park.

Runners are encouraged to arrive early to get their numbers and to get a feuling breakfast in. There will be kolaches from Cafe Kolache, bagels, fruit, and Starbucks coffee.

If you joined the race when sign-ups were first available, you would have been able to purchase a Turkey Trot neon shirt, but if you didn’t get the shirt, there will be extras for sale on race day.

All proceeds for these events help make the varsity basketball seasons memorable, so make sure you participate!