NO RIVAL IN BR
10 | NPAR
From left : Walter Babut , Dominick Babut , Jo-Ann Irving , and Zach Babut , during a pregame senior night presentation . / NPAR photo by Tami Garcia
Written by : Megan Hart NPAR Correspondent
North Port and Port Charlotte high schools may be rivals , but there is no bad blood between members of their varsity basketball teams .
In fact , Port Charlotte senior Sean Price considers North Port seniors Gene Oliver , Zach Babut and Dominick Babut to be some of his best friends . The quartet has played basketball together for nearly a decade . Though Price now faces off for the opposing team , they have not let that come between their friendship .
“ When we ’ re on the court , it ’ s basketball , basketball , basketball ,” Price said . “ But no matter what , we ’ ll still be friends off the court .”
The comradery between Price and his friends from North Port did nothing to dampen the competition when the Bobcats played the Pirates in their final regular-season game of the year on Tuesday , Jan . 31 . Port Charlotte came away with a 52-41 win , thanks in large part to Price ’ s 24 points .
Though the Pirates earned the victory , it was also a special evening for the Bobcats who celebrated their senior night . The team honored its four seniors – the Babut twins , Oliver and Bryson Thieme – with a pregame celebration .
Oliver said the night was extra special because he was able to share it with longtime friends from both North Port and Port Charlotte .
“ I ’ m still trying to work out how I feel about that moment ,” Oliver said . “ It felt good having people recognize you , but it ’ s bittersweet because you know you ’ re not going to be [ at North Port ] much longer .”
Price met the Babuts at the Boys & Girls Clubs when they were 10 years old . They soon realized they were neighbors and have been friends ever since . Some of Price ’ s favorite memories are the sleepovers they had when they were younger .
“ We ’ d hang out and run around the neighborhood ,” he said . “ It was always fun .”