Express February 2016 Courtwarming Edition

Where to Eat before Courtwarming by Morgan Buchholz This year’s Courtwarming dance theme is “Under the Sea.” People of all ages plan to attend but where do they plan to attend for a pre-game snack? Every year the decision of a spot to eat tears the group apart. Here are a few ideas to save your breath to the non-accepting group message.

If you were looking for something more informal there are plenty of options here in the Basehor area. I know personally my favorite informal, yet dance appropriate food joint, is Red Fortune Chinese. They have take-out and sit down options and have a very short wait so you can get to the dance faster. Not to mention the place where many girls get the hair done is right next to Red Fortune’s building.

Another informal food option is someplace at legends for example Five Guys, Chipotle, or even Panera. There

is something out there for you and your group’s taste buds formal or informal.

There are places near Basehor too. If you drive just a little further down the highway and take an exit you’ll reach places like KFC and Taco Bell. Set it up like a nice fancy restaurant and you instantly have a under budget meal.

Now if you’re looking to take your date or best friends out to a more formal restaurant there are great options at Legends. Longhorn Steakhouse has somewhat affordable options and no matter how much it is, you will get a wonderful atmosphere and amazing food.

Another option at the Legends is The Yard House or Granite City - serving all sorts of food you get whatever you’d like to eat in one place. For a fairly affordable price, you can go just about anywhere in

Legends. Stix is a great place for you if you’re in no hurry to get to the dance! It’s basically dinner and a movie giving you entertainment and a filling meal!

If you want to go someplace away from Basehor that’s considered a “classy” meal places like The Cheesecake Factory and The Melting Pot are hits amongst kids our age. Both known for their desserts these places are great for any special occasion and I recommend spending your time driving out to that area if you’re going some place a distance away.

I hope the tips helped you and your group decide where you’d like to eat before you attend the dance! It starts early so eat fast and get ready to dance off all the food you just ate!

How to Dance at Courtwarming by Libby Stallbaumer The majority of high school students here at Basehor-Linwood would probably agree that the actual dance is typically the low part of the night. Most people tend to take pictures, go out to eat, go to the dance for 15 minutes, and then go hang out afterwards.

One of the reasons that the dances seem so “boring” might be because nobody actually dances.

“I went to homecoming at Shawnee

Mission Northwest and everybody just danced and had a fun time,” sophomore, Isabella Nusbaum said.

Commenting on why people don’t dance, an anonymous student said, “Everyone is too scared about being judged.”

Katie Fulkerson said that we could fix this problem by “not worrying about what other people think. You only have four years of high school and you don’t want to look back on this and regret not dancing

because of what others think.”

Most of the people that I talked to agreed that the dances would be more fun if everyone danced, but everybody is too scared to step up and be the first one to do so.

I think the best thing to do is relax and have fun with your friends. Nobody is going to remember how badly you danced at the Courtwarming dance in 2016.

What to do After Courtwarming by Colin Coon While a memorable event in itself, a highlight of Courtwarming night is to hang out with friends outside of the dance.

A dinner is what people generally do, whether it is just them and their date, or they go in a large group. This is the case for Erin McGowan, who said that she, her date, and her friends were going to eat out before heading to Courtwarming, even if they are only going for a mere 20 minutes.

Of course, there are those who are doing things besides going to a dinner, followed by the dance, such as Bevin Coon, who said that, if he could, he was going to go to

dinner with his friends, attend the dance, and go to a friend’s house to watch movies, as he usually does on Courtwarming night.

As with anything, there are also those who don’t want to go to Courtwarming at all. People such as Jimmy Kneebone, who says that he has “too much homework to do,” because he needs to keep his grades up.

Another person who is not going is John Philman, who just doesn’t “really like dances like that.”

Though for many, going to the dance is a definite thing, some people, such as

Garrett Cook, aren’t sure whether they’re going or not.

Cook, however, said that he was just “too concerned with this week to plan that far ahead,” even though he was leaning more towards going.

With the limited amount of things to do at Courtwarming, it’s no wonder that it has become a tradition to go and eat, or even to just hang out after attending the event.

From dining to movies, people can do little things to add a lot of good experiences to Courtwarming night.

by Erin McGowan

The Age Old Question: What to do Instead of Behind the Scenes Courtwarming by Emma Hall With STUCOby Tristan McGehee Formal or Informal?

by Katie Fulkerson

As February brings in cold weather, it brings with it Courtwarming. However, Courtwarming is hard work to set up. This is done by a special group of people here at the high school. They are the behind-thescenes students who organize the school’s major events. They are our very own Student Council.

STUCO is the organization of students at our school who volunteer their own time to get the students involved in (and plan) events such as Courtwarming.

These events range from anywhere to fundraisers to dances. Of course, they collaborate with organizations like the Booster Club, JAG, and fundraising groups. Their most recent project has been setting up for the school’s Courtwarming dance.

This is the first year the dance has had a real theme to it, with it being “Under the Sea.” The layout calls for blue lights, balloons, and other decorations.

On the day of the dance, STUCO members are expected to be at the high school early in the morning to set up for the dance.

While the day for some may include sleeping in, dressing up, and eating out, for Student Council members, the day includes waking up early, hanging decorations, moving tables, and working for hours.

Sophomore representative Colin Coon who has been with STUCO for two years is amongst those who are sacrificing their Saturday morning, However, Coon doesn’t seem to agree with the chosen theme.

“I don’t like the theme because it sounds like sort of a Disney Little Mermaid theme, but it’s just ocean,” he said.

Sponsor Daniel Smalley said that he was a bit skeptical about having the dance themed, saying that “Themes are pretty darn cheesy.”

Student Council has a lot of work ahead of them to set up the decorations, and they hope that it will all be worth it.

Every year there is often talk about whether the Courtwarming dance will be formal or informal. The majority of students who voted in our Twitter poll preferred the dance to be formal. The results of the Twitter poll were 67 percent formal and 33 percent informal with nearly 60 students voicing their opinions.

“I like formal [dances] because then you can look really nice,” sophomore Timmy Tush said.

Even though most people prefer a formal dance over an informal dance, there are still quite a few people who prefer the dance to be informal.

Riley Seuser talked about how it can be expensive at times for girls to purchase a dress and go through all of the other things that go along with preparing for Courtwarming.

“I like informal dances because it’s cheaper, less stressful, and more comfortable,” Seuser said.

It is true that it can be difficult for girls to go shopping to find the perfect dress that fits well and looks great. Also it gets stressful when you have to add in hair, makeup, nails, shoes, and jewelry.

On the other hand, it can be hard for guys as well to prepare for dances. Let’s face it, guys don’t always know how to put together an outfit to coordinate with their date.

It’s hard to match colors and make sure that you’re still comfortable with what you wear. Also, typically the guy pays for meals which isn’t very fun but it is respectful and shows your date that you care.

Formal dances can be fun because you can go all-out and look great, but it can get stressful. Informal dances aren’t always the coolest but they are simple and generally are a little less expensive.

It’s time for Courtwarming again. This means you have one very important decision to make. Go to the dance, or skip it. You could go to the dance, but that would mean being surrounded by a bunch of sweaty teenagers, most of whom you probably don’t like, and also watching these teenagers dance super awkwardly.

But if you skip the dance, you’re going to have a lot more options available to you.

Here’s a list of just some of the things you can do instead of going to the dance.

Courtwarming’s theme this year is “Under the Sea.” This is the perfect opportunity, and excuse, to break out all of your oceanthemed movies. “Finding Nemo,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Jaws!” The possibilities are (almost) endless!

Get food. But don’t go somewhere you’ve been before. Try something new and different. Eating out of your neighbor’s trashcan counts, but is also discouraged.

Crash another school’s dance. Just make sure the dances are on the same night, though, or else you’ll be breaking into a school just to wander around.

Spend time with your family. It might sound rather unsavory but your parents will appreciate seeing you every once in awhile.

Go out for ice cream. Everyone knows ice cream is what you eat when your feelings finally bubble over the surface and you start crying buckets. Tears go good with cookies ’n’ cream.

Channel your inner ‘80s hair metal band and go ham with your makeup (or your sister/mom’s if you’re a guy) and hair.

Invite your friends over, turn on some ‘80s rock, and get super angry at society for trying to oppress you, because you’re not gonna take anymore!

If nothing else piques your interest, you can always go with the safe choice: homework. But, since you’ve got some time on your hands, try drawing a comic in the margins of your work. Nothing goes with algebra better than a doodle of a student banging their head on their desk repeatedly.

COURTWARMING

ZACH MCKNIGHT (11) Biggest Fear: The dark Reality Show: Survivor Dream Job: Entrepreneur

Court and Candidates

CHARLES MOORE (12) Biggest Fear: Dying Reality Show: An announcer on WWE

BEN MOWERY (9)

ERIN MCGOWAN (11)

Biggest Fear: To be jobless Dream Job: Sports Agent Reality Show: Survivor

Dream Job: Illustrator Reality Show: LA Ink

AVA SEATON (9)

NICK FISHER (12)

JACK DALE (12)

Biggest Fear: Spiders Dream Job: Nutritionist Reality Show: The Bachelor

Biggest Fear: Getting dunked on by Jack Dale Dream Job: NFL

Biggest Fear: Getting dunked on by Nick Fisher Reality Show: Duck Dynasty

JACK WILES (10)

KALI JACOBSON (12)

JAIME WEIBLE (12)

Biggest Fear: Failing Math Dream Job: Carpenter Reality Show: Survivor

Biggest Fear: Clowns Dream Job: Chiropractor Reality Show: Jersey Shore

Biggest Fear: 6 missed calls from mom Reality Show: The Bachelorette

RYLEA OLIVER (10)

JAHRON MCPHERSON (12)

CHASITY CHACON (12)

Biggest Fear: Failure Reality Show: The Bachelor

Biggest Fear: Losing my cat Reality Show: Young & Hungry

Biggest Fear: Bitten by a snake (again) Reality Show: Amazing Race

Courtwarming Problems Tyler Miller: Problem: Way too much twerking. Way too much.

Solution: Turn your head 180 degrees away from the twerkers and towards your date and/or friends.

Matthew Owens: Problem: I couldn’t find a date, so I didn’t go.

Solution: Either work up the nerve to ask someone or just go with a group of friends.

There’s nothing wrong with not having a date.

Michael Wicker: Problem: Fell to a severe case of IBS Solution: Wear a diaper Darren Richardson: Problem: The dancing was just bad.

Solution: Learn some new moves and/or lead a conga line.

It is a well-known fact that the past few dances have been lacking in many characteristic areas. Most people agree that the music is bad, the lighting is less than par, and nobody ever dances anymore.

COURTNEY ROBINSON (12) Biggest Fear: My alarm Reality Show: The Bachelorette

by Adam Lang & Adam Crouse

Take the word of Benjamin Dewitt. “I’ve been to a dance, a dance. Wait, no, I’ve been to a couple.” He went on to say that the reason he’s been a rare patron of the dances is because the music isn’t tasteful.

Some people, such as Darren Richardson and Matthew Owens, gave up on the dance completely. They never attend the dances anymore.

“Worst part; the dance,” Darren confirmed. Though he’d attended a few before, he recently decided not to go.

Owens has also found better things to do on the night of the dance.

Other people have given the dances one last shot. A group of friends and Olivia Sibert said their attendance last time didn’t last for long.

“We were there for 30 minutes,” her friend Maylyn said. Olivia corrected her, saying that they spent no more than ten or 15 minutes there. Before the dance, they had gone to Pizza Studio, where Maylyn got pizza sauce on her dress. They can’t remember what they did when they left the dance.

Tyler Miller found a problem with the dancing itself. “Less twerking, more just actual dancing,” Miller suggested. He recalled almost getting hit in the parking lot; he was trying to back into a stall when someone tried to whip in and pull through. Luckily, there was no collision.

Of course, some people have problems with things that aren’t necessarily related to the dance themselves. Michael Wicker fell victim to the wicked ways of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). It’s safe to assume that paying to spend the night in the restroom isn’t quite as fun as the dance itself.

Some of these problems have to do with the venue itself. Others have to do with the people. But a general rule of thumb to fix most the problems is as follows; have a real dance with your date, despite the music, and if you can’t do that, then just try to have fun with friends. Think less about the music and the venue and more about the fact you’re with people you enjoy being around. That’s a surefire way to make any night a little better.

How to Survive the Rest of Your SENIOR YEAR

by Ashley Hicklin

It’s flying by way too fast, and it’s exciting, and a little terrifying.

It also tends to get very stressful at times. Senior year is a rollercoaster and second semester isn’t a whole lot smoother than the first. You’ve got research papers due soon, you’ve got colleges to apply to, and scholarship essays to write.

It’s a madhouse and sometimes you just want to shirk all responsibilities and sleep for six months.

like you just want to shout at them, and there’s bound to be an outburst here or there, but they’re getting on your back because they want you to succeed. If your parents won’t let you leave the house until you finish applying for some scholarships, they’re actually doing you a favor. So after the blowout, the shouting, and after you’ve both taken a breath, remember to tell them you love them.

But you’ve got to remember to enjoy it too. These next few months may be the last you’ll see many of the familiar faces around you, some of which you’ve seen almost every day for nearly the last fourteen years. And that’s crazy to think about!

These people are your classmates and your friends and most of them you may never see again.

4.) DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO YOUR CLASSMATES It’s tough hearing so-and-so go on about how their dream university accepted them and they got such-and-such money from blah-blah scholarship. It’s okay. Everyone takes a different path, and maybe your best friend’s path is Harvard, and maybe yours just isn’t! Everyone is different and everyone brings something different to the table. So don’t preoccupy yourself with what your friends have accomplished. You do you!

You’ve got to learn to balance both the stress and responsibility with the excitement and fun of the coming closer of your senior year. So, here’s a few tips to survive second semester of your senior year…

5.) SAVOR IT Like I said earlier, you’ve got to remember to enjoy these last few months. Even if it’s stressful and demanding, it can also be a whole lot of fun too. Stay on top of your grades and do your hardest, but remember to have some fun too! This is the last leg of high school, it’ll be finished sooner than you think!

1.) DON’T SLACK OFF Senioritis is real, and it’s coming for you (if you haven’t already caught it)! Even though you may have already gotten that acceptance letter from your desired university, grades still matter! Your acceptance can still be revoked due to falling grades, so don’t fall behind. Keep on top of your assignments and don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for help.

6.) ACTUALLY GET SOME SLEEP Yes, you actually have to sleep. Not getting enough sleep can do more harm than good. I understand, you’ve got a trig test in the morning, or you need to finish your big sociology project.

However, not getting enough sleep, especially at this stage in our lives, can be detrimental to your health. Also, what good does studying late do for you when you’re too exhausted to actually focus on your test. Personally, I recommend you get your homework done as soon as you can after arriving home from school, get it out of the way. That way you get the pressure off your soldiers as soon as you can, and free up the rest of the night/weekend doing what you like.

2.) GO OUT… EVEN IF YOU DON’T REALLY FEEL LIKE IT Take it from me, I’m the least social person on the planet.

I would much rather put on my pj’s and curl into a blanket burrito to binge watch The X-Files on Netflix than actually put jeans on and go out. But this is possibly the last time you’ll see a lot of your friends for quite a long time, so go out with them and do whatever you and your friends do… so long as it’s legal.

3.) YOUR PARENTS ARE PRESSURING YOU, BUT IT’S BECAUSE THEY CARE Listen to your parents, because they only care. Yes, you feel

The Perfect Valentine’s Gifts

by Calder Hollond

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the colors of red and pink seem to be everywhere, but you may still be struggling to find the perfect gift for your Valentine. Look no further – the perfect gift guide for this February 14th is right here!

CHOCOLATE: Chocolate is the food most closely associated with Valentine’s Day, but with so many options, it can be hard to know what to choose.

• The Cheap Gift: Simply buy a bag of Valentine’s candy at the grocery store, like Hershey’s Kisses or Reese’s peanut butter hearts. It doesn’t cost much but still tastes great.

• The Delicious Gift: No chocolate product is more beloved than Nutella. While a jar of Nutella probably won’t last more than a day before being devoured, it will be much appreciated by your date.

• •

The Classy Gift: Drive to the grocery store or a chocolate store to buy a box of chocolates. Try Godiva at Oak Park or Christopher Elbow in Kansas City if you’re feeling extra fancy.

The Alternative Gift: Who needs chocolate? Not you – it’s much too mainstream. Instead, give your date a box of sushi to set you apart from the rest of society.

FLOWERS: Flowers are pretty and always Instagram-worthy, but what’s the best choice?

• The Simple Gift: Get your date a single rose. It’s inexpensive while also being pretty and heartfelt.

• The Classic Gift: Splurge on a bouquet of roses or other flowers to make your date the envy of everyone else.

• The Foodie Gift: Flowers are nice, but food’s way better – and doesn’t

Bobcats vs. Chieftans: Game Previews GIRLS GAME

Tonight’s game against the Bobcats and the Chieftains will feature two middleof-the pack KVL teams in a game that is sure to excite. The Bobcats are entering the game averaging just 41 points a game. The Chieftains, however, average 36.8 points per game. Here are two things to look out for in a game that should prove to be a low scoring defensive slug fest.

RYANN SMITH. She’s averaging one-sixth of her team’s points per game and has the capability to get hot at any time. In the team’s last game against Tonganoxie, she put up a game high 16 and led her team to an 8-point victory against the Chieftains.

This time around, look for her to do more of the same in her final opportunity to beat her league rival. Adding to the pressure of being the highest scoring senior on the team is the fact that tonight’s game is Courtwarming and a larger-than-average crowd will be expected for both the girls and the boys game. Look for Ryann to have a true superstar moment underneath these bright lights.

THE TONGANOXIE X-FACTORS. If Tongie wants to win tonight’s game, they’ll have to do a few things correctly: A) Get lots of production out of their star players. B) Play defense, which so far this season has been a struggle. C) Find a way to take the Basehor-Linwood crowd out of the game. The first task will be the most difficult as Tongie’s star players have yet to put together a multifaceted scoring attack. In the few games they have won this season, they’ve had to find scoring production from multiple players. If only one Tongie star shows up tonight, then look forward to a B-town beatdown. Secondly, Basehor-Linwood has consistently put up better scoring numbers than the Chieftains.

If Tongie wants to win, they’ll have to eliminate the Bobcats scoring threat. This has been difficult for them as they’ve averaged a double-digit loss to their opponents throughout the year. All of these advancements will be irrelevant though if they fail to take the Bobcat crowd out of the game. If the extra-crowded student section gets loud and the Lady Cats start hitting their shots, this game will be over quickly.

Overall, expect a close and gritty game. These are two teams with a lot to prove and a lot on the line. This game should be an evenly matched fight that should go down to the wire.

•

wilt after a few days. Give your food-loving date a bouquet of cake pops, either homemade or store-bought.

The Alternative Gift: Flowers are temporary (just like everything in this fragile life), but a hand-painted watercolor of flowers isn’t. Break out your paintbrushes and start painting!

JEWELRY: Who doesn’t love jewelry? Still, finding the perfect piece of jewelry can be difficult.

• The Useful Gift: Head over to Legends or Oak Park and go to Forever 21, Charming Charlie, or another similar store. They have tons of cute rings, bracelets, necklaces, and everything in between.

This gift will be useful for months, and won’t wilt like flowers or get eaten like chocolate.

• The Charitable Gift: Get your date the limited-edition purple Lokai

by Mitchell Mikinski

BOYS GAME

Courtwarming is always a special night at BLHS. On one hand, a new king and queen are crowned, a supremely important event on the BLHS social calendar. On the other, many people show up simply to watch BasehorLinwood’s basketball team add another win to their resume.

Regardless of which one of these viewers you are, it’s important to be informed on how tonight’s teams are approaching their games.

Here’s four things to watch for during tonight’s boys game.

TYLER NOVOTNEY: He’s small. At 5’7, he doesn’t look like much of a threat. But looks can be deceiving. He exploded for 31 in Tongie’s loss to Turner, and is certainly capable of doing it again. Also, as one of Tongie’s three seniors, he has a lot to play for in his final appearance against the Bobcats.

JACK DALE: We all know the narrative: “Star player leaves weaker program for greener pastures.” This is the story of Jack Dale, the ex-Tongie player who put his school on his back in a dramatic overtime loss to the Bobcats two years ago. The next season, he played the same game, except this time in a green jersey. Dale has been on fire this season, and is second in the KVL in points per game. In what will be his final game against his former school, look for Dale to put on a show.

THE BOBCATS’ STARS: The Bobcats’ top three scorers score as many points per game as the entire Chieftain roster. BLHS has a ridiculously talented team, and might be the best 4A team in Kansas. If even one of these guys gets hot, Tongie will be in trouble. If they put in their average performance, BLHS will be fine. They’re an offensive juggernaut, and potential state champs.

They’ll be excited for tonight’s game.

TONGIE’S SCORING: Tongie has to improve its offense if it wants to have a shot at winning tonight’s game. They’ll have to rely on their standout seniors, Novotney and Staatz, if they want a chance at escaping from BLHS with a win. This doesn’t look likely, as they’re averaging just 41.2 points per game. The Bobcats, on the other hand, average 69.7 points per game. If Tongie’s knocking shots down, buckle up, but don’t expect an upset in the event of a defensive battle, Tongie just doesn’t have the offensive firepower to win in that scenario.

• •

bracelet. It’s pretty, but the best part is that part of the proceeds go towards Alzheimer’s charities!

The Romantic Gift: It’s pricey, but Pandora is known for its dazzling jewelry selections. Splurge on a high-quality piece of jewelry for your date.

The Alternative Gift: Malls are way too mainstream for you. Instead, make your date smile with a handmade rainbow loom bracelet that’ll make everyone else jealous.

Now, you’ll have no excuse not to find the perfect gift for your date.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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EXPRESS STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Mitchell Mikinski Managing Editor: Calder Hollond Reporters: Emma Hall, Ashley Hicklin, Adam Lang, Siera Bernard, Colin Coon, Katie Fulkerson, Adam Crouse, Libby Stallbaumer, Morgan Buchholz, Erin McGowan, Tristan McGehee Adviser: Kristen Loney Letters to the editor or inquiries about advertising in The Express can be sent to expressblhs@gmail.com.