Head Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach Joel Floyd is dealing with a few challenges.

His portable classroom was pulled off of the Pelham High School parking lot to make way for construction earlier this month. Having packed up his teacher tools, Floyd is traveling to other teachers’ rooms to conduct his classes.

If that’s not enough mayhem for one man, Floyd also watched workmen bolt metal panels over the gym lobby entrance doors to make them completely impassable, ensuring safe construction outside in front of the gym.

Despite all of this construction craziness, the PHS community is excited about new classrooms and the improved gym entrance that this construction will yield.

Floyd and the other basketball coaches are focusing on what’s going on inside those gym doors as basketball season begins.

The new gym entrance is the gym staircase ground level door just across from the loading dock.

Access to PHS home basketball games will be readily available from this rear entrance.

All PHS basketball teams kicked off their seasons on Oct. 18 — including the faculty team as the tradition of a faculty vs. student basketball game revived. Male and female student teams combined and two females from both the student teams and the faculty team had to be on the court at all times.

The women were impressive. Senior Varsity Lady Panther Jamekia Dawson had an outstanding game scoring six points with two rebounds and two assists.

“I had fun beating the faculty team,” Dawson said. “I teased Mrs. Creel about her basketball skills when I heard that she was playing. Mrs. Creel was my sophomore math teacher so I know she has great math skills.”

Dawson had no comment about Creel’s basketball skills.

As the game went into the final minutes, technology teacher Scott Blair subbed out and stood on the sideline. Blair’s wet and winded condition made me take note of the other faculty players. Coach Simpson, Coach Floyd and many others shared Blair’s sweaty, exhausted state.

However, Dawson and her teammates were smiling and talking. When asked about this reality, Coach Floyd said, “Maybe the students weren’t trying very hard. Of course, maybe they didn’t have to try very hard to beat us.”

The students won with a 20-point lead — and lots of cool composure.

Please come out and support Pelham Panther basketball as the season opens against Chelsea on Nov. 9 at PHS.

Connie Nolen can be reached by e–mail at CNolen@Shelbyed.k12.al.us.