With the NBA finals underway nationwide, the competitiveness between teams vying for the title of Champion feels heightened, now more than ever. Capturing this grit and determination on a smaller, albeit just as intense, scale is Detroit-based director Hamoody Jaafar in his documentary Rouge. Set against the backdrop of Michigan’s River Rouge High School, just south of Detroit, Jaafar captures the rich dynasty of the local basketball team and the indelible mark they’ve left on their economically challenged, small-town community.

The film is set in the present day but the legacy of the team dates back to the 1950s when beloved basketball coach Lofton Greene led his team, the Panthers, to a record number of state championships. River Rouge High School had been racially integrated but given the time period, the Panthers found themselves playing in a league of otherwise segregated schools. This didn’t stop the team from forming unbreakable bonds and lasting friendships, as a handful of former players are present in the documentary and offer interviews about their time on and off the court.

History lesson aside, the film diverts its attention to the current coach, LaMonta Stone, a former Panther himself. Almost 70 years after Lofton Greene’s victorious run, Stone carries the weight of the basketball program and the larger community’s reputation on his back. He is determined to deliver the school’s 15th State Championship. In the lead-up to the finals, we are introduced to some of the team’s key players, including Brent Darby Jr., Ahmoni Weston, and Legend Geeter.

Fans of Netflix’s Cheer or Last Chance U will find a lot to admire in Hamoody Jaafar’s love letter to River Rouge basketball. If you’re a sports buff and subscribe to the coaching style of Phil Jackson or John Wooden, you’ll see a striking resemblance in the humble LaMonta Stone. His desire for excellence never wavers but the way in which he inspires his student-athletes to achieve it is commendable. Stone encourages teamwork and prefers a simple layup over a flamboyant slam dunk. On the court, he put minority kids in positions of authority, which gave them confidence that carried them into adulthood, and many alumni players attest that Stone’s leadership shaped their future for the better.

Executive Produced by award-winning documentarian Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, Citizen Ashe), Rouge is an uplifting coming-of-age film that speaks to not only the dreams of future NBA hopefuls but also to the power of camaraderie and community.