Until last Friday night, I had never attended a high school basketball game -- not as a student, not as an adult. I’ve been to plenty of high school football games. I’ve cheered at Pistons games. I’ve experienced the energy of college basketball.
But this was my very first high school basketball game.
And what a first it was.
It wasn’t just any game. It was only the second-ever Saginaw United home matchup in our brand-new Fieldhouse against Heritage High School. The atmosphere was electric from the moment I walked in. Freshman and JV teams brought home wins. Varsity came up short. A clean sweep was expected -- but honestly, the final score didn’t matter to me.
Because what I witnessed was bigger than basketball.
Saginaw United itself is bigger than basketball. It represents the coming together of two historic city high schools—Saginaw High and Arthur Hill -- now standing as one. United isn’t just a name. It’s the mission, the mindset, and now, the movement.
Before the games, I had the chance to walk several community members through our memorial hallway -- what many are calling the “Wall of Fame.” This wall honors athletes from Saginaw High and Arthur Hill who went on to compete at professional levels. Watching people stop, read, point, reflect, and connect generations of legacy to a brand-new future was powerful. Everyone who saw it immediately understood: this is how you honor the past while building forward.
That same energy carried right into the gym.
I saw the whole city inside that Fieldhouse -- police officers, firefighters, elected officials, motivational speakers, doctors, therapists, alumni, parents, students, influencers, and community members who simply wanted to be part of something positive. People didn’t just come for a game. They came to be part of United -- a united school and a united community.
Even in defeat, the crowd never sat down. Every hustle play, every spark of fight from Saginaw United was met with cheers. That’s what mattered most. It wasn’t about winning or losing -- it was about pride, resilience, and unity.
I stood through all three games. I hugged old friends, shook hands, and caught up with people I hadn’t seen in years. Some were surprised to learn I’m now with the school district instead of MLive. That made the night even more meaningful -- reconnecting with familiar faces inside a space filled with hope, legacy, and new beginnings.
Walking out of the Fieldhouse, one thought hit me hard:
This was one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long time.
Not because we won or lost. But because the community showed up.
Because two schools became one. Because our past now has a physical place of honor. And because our future is being built -- together.
If you haven’t been to a Saginaw United game yet, I encourage you to buy a ticket -- not just to support our athletes, but to experience what I did. Because what’s happening inside that Fieldhouse is bigger than basketball.
It’s a community becoming United -- for our students, our schools, and our city.