Shaler Area girls basketball team stands up against racism

When the Shaler Area varsity girls basketball team takes the court against North Allegheny on Feb. 15, hoops won’t be the only spotlight.

Athletes on both teams plan to show a united front against racism.

The Titans and Tigers will warm up before the 6 p.m. competition in black T-shirts emblazoned with an anti-racism message.

Former Titans basketball standout Meg Lydon is scheduled to address the crowd, speaking about the ways athletics can unite people from different backgrounds.

The initiative is supported by Shaler’s Response to Racism committee, formed in 2020 after a group of students and alumni decried prejudice in the district.

A petition circulated in summer 2020 by a group of alumni drew more than 900 signatures to demand action from the school board in the form of inclusion training for staff, enhanced support for minorities and an updated and more thorough Black history curriculum.

At that time, Superintendent Sean Aiken pledged the district’s commitment, and the advisory board was formed.

“As educators, we stand together in our commitment to create a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for all of our students and families,” Aiken said then.

Basketball coach Cornelious Nesbit, who is part of the committee, said the purpose of the game is “education, awareness and action.”

Throughout the season, the Titans have focused on ways the team can use its platform to become leaders in the community to understand and respond to racism, Bethany Baker, district communications specialist said.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes created a music playlist for halftime of the varsity game, which will be played in the Shaler Area High School gym. In-person attendance at the game is limited due to capacity restrictions.

To view the game online, follow Shaler Area on NFHS Network at nfhsnetwork.com/events/shaler-area.