CHESHIRE -- School bus windows are supposed to prevent kids from hanging out. The Hoosac Valley girls' basketball team couldn't have cared less Saturday evening.
As the Hurricanes were paraded through town, they dangled themselves out of the windows, waving at all the fans that lined the streets to welcome them back after their Western Massachusetts Division II championship.
"It was awesome that our town cares so much and is doing things like this. It's just awesome," Jenn Gale said. "You had Mckenzie [Robinson] have half of her body out the window. You thought that you were going to lose her out there."
"My feet were just on the seat and I just hung out and I go ‘Meg, do it,' " Robinson said. "Jenn's like holding me back and I'm like ‘I got it. I'm careful.' I'm hanging out, banging on the bus. It was so funny."
The celebration started well before the bus reached town. Fans were pulled over along the way cheering and coach Ron Wojcik would call out what side they were on as he looked out the windshield. The team scurried from side to side trying to not miss a single fan -- or cow.
Once back to town, both local and state police, coupled with a pair of fire trucks, led the bus through the streets, blocking off traffic, all the way back to school.
"I thought it was a tremendous experience for the kids and they deserve every bit of it," Wojcik said. "It's certainly something, as a coach you don't forget,
The Hurricanes will be back on the bus today as they head to the DCU Center in Worcester for their MIAA Division II state semifinal. They'll play Nashoba, who won the Central Mass. title as the No. 2 seed. The winner advances to Saturday's state championship game at the DCU Center.
With four straight wins in the tournament -- three as the underdog -- and a winning streak that stretches back eight games, Hoosac's full of confidence. The Hurricanes are ready to take on anyone.
"I think we can win," Celina Sistrunk said.
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