One of the new sayings in today’s fast paced world is that everything travels quicker on the Internet. The old idea was that information flew through high schools just as quickly. Put the two together, and it could be a recipe for a sweeping phenomenon, like the viral video that rushed through Fort Lee High School this past week.

On Dec. 31, the Lady Bridgemen basketball team won their second straight holiday tournament when they defeated the Park Ridge Owls. Winning the trophy in back-to-back years brought the girls some recognition but nothing close to the popularity the team received after a video surfaced - a video originally posted on Patch - of their championship celebration.

After the final buzzer sounded, senior guard Brianna Mattessich rushed toward the Fort Lee bench to be with her teammates. At the same time, senior guard Lindsey Clesmere left the bench to join the girls on the floor. The result made the girls instant celebrities at their school.

Mattessich bowled over Clesmere and then continued to celebrate as another player helped her teammate back up to re-join the party.

“Brianna jumped, and then I jumped,” said Clesmere, laughing. “And I guess we really didn’t hit each other. She just hit me.”

Mattessich claims to having been so caught up in the moment that she didn’t even apologize to Clesmere, who had fallen hard, until a few moments after the chest-bump.

“I just walked away,” said Mattessich, chuckling. “But then she came back to congratulate me, and I said I was sorry.”

Initially, the girls did not know there was a video of the incident until Lindsey found a clip attached to Patch article from the championship game.

“Then Lindsey put the video on Facebook so everyone watched it,” said Mattessich. “The next day, it was the talk of our school.”

People that didn’t even know Brianna and Lindsey came across the video, making the girls the talk of Fort Lee High.

“A couple people came up, actually shook my hand and asked if I was ok,” Clesmere said. “I told them I’m fine, then walked away and didn’t know who that was.”

The film was even shown to an entire class, with a little help from Mattessich.

“Brianna put it on in sociology,” said classmate and teammate Megan Gimson. “It was really funny, and everyone in our school thought it was hilarious. We love Lindsay, and she thinks it is funny too. So it’s all in good fun.”

The team is also hoping to post the video on YouTube someday to see how many views they can actually get. A movement is also underway to get the clip on America’s Funniest Home Videos.

In the meantime, the Fort Lee Lady Bridgemen are very pleased with the moment and the potential memories the video may have resulted in.  

“It never gets old,” Mattessich said. “Every time I watch it, I laugh. In 20 years, I’ll probably be cracking up just the same way.”