The team provided tickets for over 300 seniors to watch the game against the Warriors while players wore a Santa Fe HS patch on their uniform.
The Houston Rockets honored the victims and survivors of the deadly Santa Fe High School shooting during Thursday’s Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
The team provided tickets for more than 300 seniors to watch the game against the Golden State Warriors while players wore a Santa Fe HS patch on their uniform. The school’s choir sang the national anthem prior to the game.
Eight students and two substitute teachers died last week when a student allegedly opened fire on his classmates with a shotgun and .38 caliber revolver at the Houston-area high school. Thursday was Houston’s first home game since the shooting.
“I played on that football field in Santa Fe,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta told the Houston Chronicle . “We just wanted to step up.… We’re just trying to do our little piece and make it special for all these special people in Galveston County and Santa Fe.”
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In addition to students, the school’s superintendent, principal and first responders were welcomed for a pregame ceremony.
Houston hip-hop star Travis Scott gave a shout-out to the students after they were introduced in the stands.
“We love you,” Scott said. “Ya’ll are the strongest people on this Earth. Thank you for being heroes to all of us. Let’s go Rockets!”
