Weaving Friendships… Varsity Basketball player Lillian Moreno braids junior Lucia Jordan’s hair as sophomore Nylah Loukides watches before their match against the Roberstdale Bears on January 28. The day started at 4:30 with Junior Varsity, Girls Varsity and lastly Boys Varsity, while Senior Night activities happened during halftimes and after each Varsity game. “All my teammates are my friends and everything, so, it’s like—it’s really nice to be on a close team like this,” Loukides said.
Weaving Friendships… Varsity Basketball player Lillian Moreno braids junior Lucia Jordan’s hair as sophomore Nylah Loukides watches before their match against the Roberstdale Bears on January 28. The day started at 4:30 with Junior Varsity, Girls Varsity and lastly Boys Varsity, while Senior Night activities happened during halftimes and after each Varsity game. “All my teammates are my friends and everything, so, it’s like—it’s really nice to be on a close team like this,” Loukides said.
Jillian Surla
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Pirates dominate court against Robertsdale on Senior Night

January 30, 2025
Sweat it off… Junior Varsity sophomore Cohen Robertson shakes his teammates’ hands as he was substituted by another player. Though benched, Robertson continued to watch as the Pirates won 64-37. (Jillian Surla)
Rock with the Gold… JV Cheerleader Stella Gray hypes the audience for the next half of the JV game. During the competition, the cheerleaders danced to various routines and stunted to encourage players. (Jillian Surla)
Pirate Pride… Varsity junior Libby Rogers dribbles the ball and practices free throws before the game. The team warmed up and went through drills ranging from layups to rebounds. (Jillian Surla)
Span of Spirit… Cheerleaders rally for player callouts, shaking their poms as they whooped for each player. First Fairhope Baptist student pastor Ryan Smith announced the lineup, encouraging the girls to run with pride. (Jillian Surla)
Get Down!… Freshman Liz Niehuss and Loukides force Robertsdale junior Lola Mosley to the floor with the ball. Niehuss followed her down to attempt possession. “We’re definitely prepared as a team for this game,” Loukids said. (Jillian Surla)
Running it down… Sophomore Campbell Anderson dribbles down the court during the third quarter. She laid it up for two points. (Jillian Surla)
What a Rush!… Sophomore Olivia Leathers dribbles the ball after a pass. With a substantial lead, the girls finished the rest of the game, enjoying the inevitable victory. (Jillian Surla)
Time for Coachin’… Assistant coach Cassandra Agee congratulates the girls for a successful victory. The Lady Pirates defeated the Lady Bears 53-7 and initiated the postgame handshakes. “We’re all close,” Moreno said. “We have friends and we all vibe together as a group.” (Jillian Surla)
Can’t Hide Pirate Pride… Senior cheerleaders Catherine McCaleb, Bradyn Bauguss, Reid Williams, Emmalayne Castle and Jenna Barker walk each other down the court, honoring their accomplishments as seniors wearing their senior sashes with pride.
A Final Year… Moreno saunters across the court with her mom. As the only senior on Varsity Girls, Moreno received a bouquet and a basketball signed by her coaches and teammates. “I was very excited for Senior Night,” Moreno said. “I’ve been very happy all day with the positive comments and everything. I just love it.” (Jillian Surla)
Proud to be a Parent… Coach Ralph Watson gives senior Brock Washington a smile and a handshake, congratulating him for his continued success. Watson offered the mothers of all of his senior players a white rose as they walked towards the center of the court. (Jillian Surla)
Starting Strong… Senior Jackson Robertson looks for a shot after preventing a steal from Robertsdale senior Adrian Davis. Robertson made an assist to senior Keshun Gulley, who dunked it. (Jillian Surla)
Kicking it up… Senior soccer player Emma Coffey attempts a free throw during the halftime show. Coffey competed to win a free Beat Daphne T-Shirt.
Beat the Bears… Cheerleaders raise their fists after a successful basket, silently congratulating the Pirates for putting them further into the lead. Following a basket, cheerleaders built a stunt for spectators to encourage the team. (Jillian Surla)
Time’s-a-tickin’… Junior Reece Olmstead rushes down the court, evading his defender with ease. Though the timer neared 0, Olmstead kept a cool head and played with his all. (Jillian Surla)
Coach Time… Senior Jayden Champion reaches for a layup. After a foul from the Bears, Pirates took possession and Champion threw the inbound pass. (Jillian Surla)
Delightful Dinner… Junior Jackson Gulley laughs about and discusses the game with sophomore Gus Faulkner. The team defeated the Bears 70-39. (Jillian Surla)
Taco Time!… The team serves themselves tacos provided by their parents for Senior Night. After each of the Varsity games, the teams enjoyed an informal banquet to celebrate the seniors. (Jillian Surla)
Night to Remember… Players Jackson Gulley, Brody Nelson and Olmstead eat their dinners. Still hyped after the match and free food, they spoke excitedly about the Daphne match on January 30. “It’s so sad [to send off the seniors],” Loukides said. “Literally, Lillian’s going to be gone … Yeah, it’s sad because Lillian and I became friends last year, so now that she’s leaving.” (Jillian Surla)
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