On Feb. 3, 2026, the Derby High School boys’ basketball team faced Wolcott High School on senior night, falling 62–36 in their final home game of the season. Despite the loss, the focus of the night was honoring eight senior players and two senior cheerleaders for their years of progress and dedication.
Before the game began, each senior was escorted onto the court with their families, as cameras flashed to capture the moment. This gave players and cheerleaders a chance to reflect on their high school journey alongside the people who had supported them the most. Senior cheerleader Donella Delijah ’26 said, “It felt good for them to see what I accomplished,” noting that her family often had to work and couldn’t always attend games and events. Brianna Hubbard ’26 shared her appreciation, saying having her mother and brother there meant everything because they always show up to support her.
The game started strong, with both teams playing hard and Derby keeping pace with Wolcott early on. However, tension on the court began to rise, and the students and parents in the crowd could feel it too. As the game grew more intense, Derby gradually started to fall behind.
When asked what cheerleading has meant to her over the years, Donella Delijah said it helped push her out of her comfort zone and gave her the chance to meet and talk to more people. When asked how she feels knowing this chapter is ending, she shared that she feels very sad. After years of cheering, she knows she will suddenly have a lot of free time once it’s over. When I asked what advice she would give younger cheerleaders, she said, “You’re going to be burnt out, just keep going.” To her, sisterhood means “being there for each other in the highs and lows, no matter what happens.”
Joel Young ’26 felt the game went really well and that he had enough playing time. He explained that much of the stress was in his mind, but playing as a team mattered most. He said he really enjoyed this season with the people he had built relationships with up to this point. When I asked, “What memories will you take with you?” Joel replied, “The practices, games, and talks with the coaches.”
The Raider Press 