January 24 • 2019 29
jn

Hillel Students Join 
Pistons on the Court
H

illel Day School students were 
on the court for the national 
anthem and played a scrim-
mage basketball game at halftime of 
a Detroit Pistons game last month at 
Little Caesars Arena.
It was the same day as a ticket deal 
offered by the Pistons and the Michigan 
Jewish Sports Foundation, with 10 
percent of ticket sales donated to the 
Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
It also was “a total coincidence” that 
Hillel and the foundation had promo-
tions on the same day, Dec. 9, accord-
ing to Hillel athletic director Nicole 
Miller. 
“We didn’
t know about the (founda-
tion’
s) ticket offer until we were at the 
game,
” she said.
“The Pistons gave us three possible 
dates in the fall to be involved in the 
national anthem and play in the half-
time game, and we chose the Sunday 
afternoon one because we 
thought it would be best for 
our students and their fam-
ilies. We’
re glad it worked 
out that it was the same day 
as the (foundation’
s) ticket 
offer.
”
It was a great Sunday 
afternoon for the Hillel 
students even though the 
Pistons lost 116-108 to the 
New Orleans Pelicans in 
front of a crowd of 14,705.
Twenty Hillel students 
were on the Stars & Stripes 
Squad. They stood on the 
court with the Pistons and 
Pelicans for the national 
anthem and each received a T-shirt. 
Fifteen members of Hillel basket-
ball teams played a six-minute run-
ning-time scrimmage game at halftime.
Hillel coaches Josh Cutler and Brad 
Freitag were the coaches of the co-ed 
halftime teams. The coaches’
 most 
important task was substituting players 
in and out of the game — each team 
had five players on the court at one 
time — so everyone got as much play-
ing time as possible.
The Hillel players were introduced by 
fabled Pistons public address announc-
er John Mason, who provided a run-
ning commentary during the game, and 

the action was televised on the huge 
overhead scoreboard.
Hillel eighth-grader Merrick 
Michaelson created a memory he’
ll 
never forget when he drained a 3-point-
er from just behind the arc that was 
worthy of a replay on the scoreboard.
“I’
ve always wanted to 
play on an NBA court and 
make a three. It was excit-
ing,
” said the 13-year-old 
Farmington Hills resident, 
who gave credit to team-
mate Zach Elbinger for 
making the pass that set up 
his 3-pointer.
“I thought it was going in 
when I shot it,
” Michaelson 
said. “The ball hit the rim a 
little, but it was a good shot. 
That was my first shot of the 
game. I missed my next two 
shots. I was nervous playing 
with all those people watch-
ing, but it was an amazing 
experience.
”
Miller said there were about 75 peo-
ple including family members in the 
Hillel entourage at the game. Being on 
the Stars & Stripes Squad and playing 
at halftime was part of a group ticket 
package.
This was the first Hillel promotion 
at a Pistons game at Little Caesars 
Arena. The Farmington Hills school 
was involved in a Jewish Heritage Night 
event at the Palace of Auburn Hills 
about five years ago, Miller said. ■

Send news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

sports

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

See a video of the 
Hillel Day School 
basketball teams’
 
halftime game at 
thejewishnews.com. 

Merrick Michaelson

Players on Hillel Day School basketball 
teams hoop it up at halftime of a Detroit 
Pistons game at Little Caesars Arena.

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