On Jan. 8, De Soto High School opened its doors to its new gym for basketball games against Spring Hill.

“This was probably the best turn-out that we have had. It was nice to see all of the fans in the audience cheering us on,” senior Katie Gehrt said.

The new venue is very open and allows for more people to come and watch as well as get a better view from the stands.

“It was a very nice and open atmosphere. The floors were shiny and easier to move on. It makes turn arounds run more smoothly,” Gehrt said.

Students, visiors, and all other spectators thoroughly enjoyed the new gym. Many claimed that they could see the game a lot better which allowed them to pay better attention to the game. Also, many commented on the quality of the sound system. Fans appreciated being able to hear what was happening.

“Between the raffle and t-shirt throwing, it was a very fun, hyped up crowd and definitely a fun environment to be in,” junior Morgan Riley said.

Beyond just games, the team benefits from the area for practice. This allows for two seperate gyms instead of one. Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams can utilize these spaces at different times to maximize practice time.

“Practice runs alot smoother now. Plus, now the freshman actually have a good place to practice and can watch the varsity to learn new drills and other things. This will make the entire team better,” Gehrt said.