T-L Photo/DYLAN McKENZIE Staff members of Buckeye Local High School play defense as students try to score a point during Wednesday’s basketball game.

RAYLAND — After members of their community experienced a loss last week, the Buckeye Local Panthers came together to help them out, playing a charity basketball game to raise money.

The Dombroski family recently lost their Mount Pleasant home and everything they owned in a devastating house fire. Although everyone in the structure, as well as their pet pig, managed to escape safely, all the family’s possessions were destroyed in the blaze. The family has several children in the Buckeye Local Schools system, including one seventh-grader and six children at West Elementary. Seeing that members of the BL community were in need, the high school staff and students decided to hold a charity basketball game to raise money for the family.

The school usually holds an annual basketball game, pitting BL seniors against faculty and staff at the schools. Principal Coy Sudvary said they decided to change a few things this year to help out the Dombroski family. Students from grades seven through 12 attending the game were asked to donate $2 each to go toward helping the victims of the fire. Athletic Director Sam Jones said organizers “are absolutely pleased with the results;” although the money hadn’t been counted yet, he guessed they had raised $1,000 Wednesday.

“When the community is in trouble, we try to do events like this to help our own,” Jones said.

After the student population filed into the gym and took their seats, the battle between students and staff began, with both sides trying to keep control of the ball and score much-needed baskets. Although the seniors of Buckeye Local played hard and fast, staff members took an early lead in the game. The students worked hard to close the gap in the second half but were unable to catch up before the final buzzer rang. The staff won the game, with the final score of 40-34. Even though they had lost, the students on the team were smiling as they left the gym because they had fun for a good cause.

“It was a lot of fun,” Sudvary said. “It’s nice to be able to give back to students when they’re in need.”

Sudvary added that the district is also holding a spaghetti dinner to benefit the family from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at West Elementary. The cost meal is half-price for children 12 and under. For more information, or to donate items to the family, call West Elementary at 740-546-3331.