The games were dedicated to Beaty fifth-grader Carson Kiser.

In December, after a teacher noticed something different about his appearance, Kiser was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Since then, he has been receiving treatment at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The Junior Flannel Panel student cheering section picked ‘Orange Out’ for the theme of the game. Orange is the cancer ribbon color for leukemia.

Beaty-Warren Middle School Best Seat in the House winner Juliana Polito, wearing her #carsonstrong shirt, reacts during the Beaty vs. Eisenhower Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade basketball games Thursday. The games were dedicated to Beaty fifth-grader Carson Kiser, who was diagnosed with leukemia in December.

More than 500 #carsonstrong T-shirts were sold, with profits benefiting Carson’s family. Beaty Teacher Wendy Carrington thanked Three Sixty Graphics for expediting the shirt order.

“We will be taking donations, having a 50-50 drawing, and having games for the students to buy into playing at halftime,” Carrington said. “We are also donating profits from the concession stand.”

“The money that we raise will go directly to Carson’s father to use for gas, medical expenses, and needs for his family while he is in Pittsburgh,” Carrington said.

The event was a packed house – with upwards of 350 fans in the Beaty gym, most of them wearing orange in support of Carson.

The teams warmed up before their games wearing #carsonstrong shirts.

Beaty-Warren Middle School students Aubrey Carrington (left) and McKenzie Chamberlain wear orange while preparing popcorn for sale at the Beaty-Warren Middle School concession stand during the Beaty-Eisenhower seventh- and eighth-grade basketball games on Thursday. The games, and the profits from concessions, were dedicated to Beaty fifth-grader Carson Kiser, who was diagnosed with leukemia in December. Orange is the leukemia ribbon color.

The cheerleaders wore orange over their school colors.

There were long lines for concessions and the 50-50 was worth $216.

Carson’s family received $108 of that. And then, they received another $108 when winner Cynthia Klenowski donated her winnings back to Carson.

“It’s for an important cause,” she said. “He needs it. I can’t imagine being in that situation.”

Beaty student Juliana Polito had ‘the best seat in the house’ for the big event.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Beaty-Warren Middle School students wearing orange, including #carsonstrong shirts, take a photo at ‘the best seat in the house’ during the Beaty vs. Eisenhower Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade basketball games on Thursday that were dedicated to Beaty fifth-grader Carson Kiser, who was diagnosed with leukemia in December.

Students may turn in FIRE Points – earned through positive behaviors in school – for a number of prizes. One of those is a chance to sit in a couch at center court for a basketball game. Polito spent 10 FIRE Points to enter that raffle.

“It sounded fun to be in this seat,” she said from the seat of comfort at the center of the action. At times, friends shared the sofa with her. It was worth the points, she said.

The Eisenhower Knights won both games Thursday, but the community made sure Carson was the big winner on that night