Hurricane Nation is the best fan base by far in the whole country, at least that’s what Palm Harbor High fans believe in. Senior Night is a night to honor the success of the graduating class of 2017 for basketball in one special and extravagant night. Four years seems like a millennium until the end is in sight but hope lives on in the playoffs. Loud fans, the Cane Gang Giant waving his flag, the cheerleaders are glittery and sparkled all over with their maroon and navy blue pom-poms, and tons of balloons all make this classic hardwood turn into a star studded runway for the graduates. In just a few moments, smiles will turn to mean mugs and roses will turn to basketballs. It’s finally game time.

It’s amazing what can happen over the course of just a few years. New players and uniforms emerge, but an everlasting legacy of Hurricane basketball lives on. The class of 2017 for Hurricane Basketball includes Luke Vafiadis, Christian Alfaro, Devin Richards, and Matt Glaus. Three out of the four have been Hurricane ballers since freshman year and have grown within the program (Christian, Devin, and Matt). Luke was a Tarpon High transfer two years ago. Transferring looks like one of the greatest decisions he’s ever made. He has never looked back since, and has been racking up numbers from within the pain and behind the arch.

Tonight is Senior Night, the most important game of a student athlete’s career. Forget playoffs and rivals; tonight is what is most important.

The opponent was Clearwater High School, a worthy opponent for a board-to-board team like PHUHS. All bets were in and the table was set. Who will show up and who will get shut out?

The game plan was simple: have fun. It was a small price to ask on such a special night. There was no stress about the next game or lingering thoughts from the one prior. Players relished in the moment and just played ball. The coaches pulled some kind words from each senior before the game that evening except Matt Glaus, who had college exams and couldn’t give a word.

Christian Alfaro (#3), shooting guard, was nothing but heartfelt heading into Senior Night.

“I want to be able to look back over these four years and know I gave it my all. I have no regrets and just want to enjoy it (tonight) and play ball. To our underclassman, go in with a full heart in your few seasons left as it takes a lot before you can give back and that’s when the progress is shown and shows it’s hard work,” said Alfaro.

Luke Vafiadis (#10) was a major key in the motivation heading into Senior Night.

“I just want to play ball with my boys and absorb the energy from the crowd in this special moment. This game has done so much for me when things didn’t look too bright, and with my friends, family, coaches and teammates by my side I just want to go that much harder for them. My mind is on a new level for tonight,” Vafiadis said.

Devin Richards (#15) had this to say about the incoming Senior Night. “We want to have fun, to play the best that we can play, and enjoy the night. Of course I’m gonna miss it. I’m just glad I’ll have all these memories to look back on. And to the underclassman cherish it, before you know you’ll have balloons next to you and it’s your last game.”

The end result was a star studded finish 85-70 with the Hurricanes engulfing the Clearwater Tornadoes. Cheers and applause echoed around the gymnasium with hearts filled to the brim with love and joy as our victors came through the back double doors drained of energy but uplifted with triumphant spirits and watery tears of joy.