2017 Sportsmanship Finalists

Van Buren boys basketball team

When heated rivals Van Buren and East Carter met in a boys basketball game in December, it was a kind act that transcended rivalry that was remembered. In the final minute of the junior varsity contest, the Bulldogs allowed East Carter freshman Jacob Rogney, who has a learning disability following a traumatic brain injury suffered in a car crash, to receive an inbounds pass and score while players and fans from both sides chanted Rogney’s name.

Cape Girardeau Central football team

Senior Night for Cape Girardeau Central football was especially memorable for one Tiger senior — team manager Garrett Jones. A special needs student and fixture around Central athletics, Jones pulled on a Tiger uniform for the first and last time as he joined his teammates on the field for a special teams play in a win over Soldan. Jones received the handoff on a two-point conversion attempt and ran into the end zone following Central’s first touchdown of the game.

Malden softball team

In a softball game with district seeding implications between Malden and Dexter, the Bearcats’ Kelby Hill collided with a teammate and set off a scary set of events that saw her carted into an ambulance and off to the hospital. With the game still hanging in the balance, Malden players quickly joined Dexter in its dugout in a show of support and joint prayer, creating a moment that will be remembered more than the game’s final result.