"The underclassmen were all sitting up there, and on their phones, Snapchatting and texting each other. They weren't watching the game," Van't Hul says. "We had them put their phones in the box and they started watching the game, cheering along with us, paying attention."

A fad is born. Or a cultural expectation. A teachable moment.

"Your photographer is spot-on with what he observed," Dan Barkel, the Western Christian principal says. "That's how it's gone down."

Barkel holds the phones, securing these pricey and can't-live-without gadgets until each game ends. On Monday, students in the Wolfpack cheering section grab the devices after they congratulate their girls for defeating Pocahontas Area Community High School in one of Northwest Iowa's more entertaining contests all season.

Ten minutes after the game concludes, Barkel still holds five phones. Those students finally remember they have a phone that's always within reach, except during basketball games. They catch up with the principal and reconnect, pun intended.