Although members of the Meridian Flyers basketball teams are high school basketball teammates, most haven’t physically shared a classroom together. 

The Flyers are a Meridian-based program comprised of players from Lauderdale, Neshoba, Kemper, Clarke and Newton counties, and home games are played at the Hickory Gymnasium. 

Mike Rasberry and Scott Sherman coach the program’s boys’ and girls’ teams, respectively. Rasberry shares a love of basketball and the gospel, and the 72-year-old Vietnam veteran has found a way to meld both. 

“I am so grateful that God has given me the opportunity to work with young men at this stage of my life,” Rasberry said. “I believe that basketball teaches about life because you practice how to make application about what you learn, and you know the results immediately. You don’t have to wait to determine down the road if it was the right choice. The consequences and rewards are all immediate. Our goal is not to have the highest score on the scoreboard, but to teach young men and young women how to live in the world because there’s going to disappointments and challenges.” 

Rasberry began coaching the Meridian Flyers boys basketball program 18 months ago, while Sherman has led the girls for three seasons. Three of Sherman’s children are members of the basketball team, and his youngest plays soccer for the league.

The Flyers, which practice twice a week, will conclude a regular season in February that included games against Jackson Homeschool, Hattiesburg Homeschool, Starkville Christian, Laurel Christian and other programs. 

Developing and maintaining team chemistry without a classrooms has been challenging, but Sherman said preexisting relationships have made doing so much easier.

“It’s difficult,” Sherman, 44, said. “Because we are coming from such a wide area and so many counties, these girls only practice together for about two- to two-and-a-half hours a day twice a week. As they get to know each other, probably once every other week some of the girls get together in other social environments — whether it’s going to the movies, or sometimes you’ll have little clusters of two or three families that do homeschool activities together.”

Having a common faith has cultivated that chemistry. 

“All of these girls are raised in families that center around a love for Christ, and because of that, there are common interests, and that common desire to honor God makes it easier to unify them on the court,” he said. 

This year, Mark Moore, 17, will graduate a year early from high school. Moore has played basketball for one season for the Flyers, and he’s played baseball for the team for four years. While he’s enjoyed the friendly competition in both sports, the positive, nurturing aspect provided by both teammates and coaches have left the biggest impression on Moore.

“We have a bunch of Godly, Christian men who influence you a lot, and that’s probably what I’ve enjoyed most about it,” Moore said. “We always have really good fellowship, and there’s never a dull moment. We’re always having a good time.”

Although the Flyers boys basketball program will conclude its season soon, Rasberry is already looking forward to returning next year. For him, it will provide another opportunity to continue sharing the gospel with others.

“Carry a basketball to any playground in the world, and you can get an audience,” Rasberry said. “Especially if I palm it.”