Bishop Ryan senior Hayden Seay (No. 4) shoots the ball in the school's 'Holy Hoops' game against the Men in Black on Monday, Mar. 30.

More than 20 years ago, Bishop Ryan Catholic School started their assistant chaplain program, and for the second year in a row, the Lions’ varsity basketball team hosted the ‘Holy Hoops’ exhibition game to help raise money for the program.

The Lions hosted the Men in Black, a team made up of priests from the Bismarck Diocese and member of the Bishop Ryan coaching staff, for the second year in a row.

“The Assistant Chaplain Program gives these young adults the chance … to serve and not to be served,” said school Chaplain Father Josh Hill before the game. “They take everything that they’ve learned here in their time at Bishop Ryan and apply it not for their own good, but for the good of the entire school.”

By the end of the first quarter of play, the Lions were up over their opponents 21-14, but the Men in Black began to close the gap in through the second quarter, ending in the first half down just six points at 38-32.

Compared to the other teams the Lions faced during their regular season, the Men in Black had their own specific qualities that made Monday night’s game a tough one.

“They’re really competitive,” said Bishop Ryan senior guard Hayden Seay. “They’re all big and they’re all older than us so obviously they know how to play really good team ball together and work off of each other.”

Though the Lions were younger and smaller than the Men in Black, their energy and speed on the court more than made up the difference.

The two teams worked their to a 59-56 score at the end of the third, and even though the Men in Black outscored the Lions for the first quarter that game, the Lions held on to their lead.

The score cam even closer through the fourth and final quarter of play, often within just a single possessions, but the Lions were able to push through to the end. Even though the game came down to the finals baskets of the game, the Lions kept their win streak in the Holy Hoops with their 73-69.

Though winning feels good, for the players, the game is bigger than just the points on the scoreboard.

“Its so fun to play in the game and also know that everything is going to a great cause and a great organization,” said Seay.