BY NATE NGUYEN
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Six Roseville High School sophomores are currently in a basketball rivalry with six Woodcreek High School sophomores, competing for bragging rights in a pickup game known as “THE GAME 2K16”.

The rivalry began when RHS sophomore Jamie Bateman got in a dispute via Twitter last year with WHS sophomore Cameron Salerno. Bateman tweeted multiple things regarding Salerno leading to a town wide rivalry. From there, Salerno challenged Bateman to a game of basketball.

“He was scared to face me one-on-one, so he made it a five-on-five,” Bateman said.

The assembled teams then scheduled a press conference for Salerno and Bateman to square off and answer questions. They settled their disagreements on the court at William Bill Hughes Park, including a national anthem, functional scoreboard, coaches, snack bar, medical staff and referee.

“We met at the press conference. Their insults towards me were lackluster,” Bateman said. “They fueled me to play better in the game.”

This year’s press conference was held last Friday at Round Table Pizza on Pleasant Grove with both teams in attendance, as well as supporters of “THE GAME 2K16.”

Last year, Team Roseville fell short against Team Woodcreek, losing the lead and the game in the second half. According to Team Roseville coach Reece Brown, his team needs to work together to win this year.

“We lost the unit factor [last year],” said Brown. “And that’s something any team needs, and every team needs.”

According to Bateman, last year they didn’t take the game seriously enough, but this year will be different.

“I think last year going into it our team saw it as a joke, we came in over our heads and they took it to us and beat us,” Bateman said. “We had a lot of fans there last year and we let them down. This year we won’t let them down.”

Last year, after suffering from multiple technical fouls for shattering clipboards on the court and throwing stools, Brown plans to keep a controlled rage this year.
“We have to keep the technical [fouls] down,” Brown said. “Expect the clipboards to break not to shatter.”

According to the players, last year the team lacked bonding and chemistry, losing them the game.

“There was no chemistry in the team [last year],” Bateman said. “We didn’t really know each other that well [because] we’ve only gone to school together for about eight years.”

According to Bateman, his team has made vast advancements in the team’s relationship in the past year and they’re now functioning together in harmony.

“In the last year we’ve gone from being five [separate] stars into being one big mega star,” Bateman said. “We combined our talents [in this past year] to become one unit.”

Roseville team member Blake Beaman loves his team like his family and wouldn’t want to be playing with anyone else.

“I love all these guys, I’ve known them for years and they’re my brothers and there’s nothing I want more than to go out on that court and beat Woodcreek,” Beaman said. “There is no one else I’d rather be on the court with, I’ve known a few of them since as long as I can remember, they’re part of my family now and I love them with all my heart.”

According to Roseville team member Joe Cirrincione, Team Woodcreek is bound to lose this year.

“They just have a lot of really terrible players who don’t even know what a basketball is,” Cirrincione said.

According to Roseville team member Jase Giorgi, Team Woodcreek is the final item on the list to conquer after playing on RHS’ JV basketball team this season. He plans on using his experience on the JV basketball team to help his team ‘THE GAME 2K16’.

“I don’t know how they run things over on their side of town but here at Roseville High School we have a really good and solid [basketball] program and through the coaching of Bobby Ritter we might have the edge over Woodcreek,” Giorgi said. “[RHS] almost took the CVC title, did take out all the scrub teams, and now [Team Roseville will] take on the true scrub team: Woodcreek.”

According to Team Woodcreek’s coach Carson March, they plan on beating Team Roseville by using the strategy of keeping quiet and practicing hard.

“Last year was a pretty close game and this year will be completely different. We’re gonna run their [expletive],” March said. “Most of our talking will be on the court. We don’t need the trash talk.”

According to Bateman and Brown, they are doing everything they can to be as ready as possible for their upcoming match up.

“It’s all about that one word that starts with ‘P’,” Bateman said. “Preparation. Preparation is key”

Brown plans to also run multiple practices before the actual game in order to prepare his team for the match.

“More practices, harder practices, more running, and more staff,” Brown said. “That’s what’s going to make the difference this year.”

In the past week, Salerno’s participation in “THE GAME 2K16” was uncertain. Bateman and other fellow teammates showed respect by claiming they’d only play if Salerno played.

“[This rivalry] has always been him versus me. He’s been a pillar of this foundation,” Bateman said. “And what happens when you take out a pillar of a building? It collapses.”