Whether they would like to admit it or not, a person usually develops a sweet-tooth at some point in their lives.
It doesn't matter if you are a little kid, an adult or a member of the elderly, there is nothing quite like enjoying a sweet, tasty treat whenever possible.
But like everything else in the world - there is a time and place for everything. Chewing on a chocolate bar at a picnic would be a good idea. Ripping open a bag of candy in a corporate meeting - not so much.
Watching a movie, celebrating Halloween or running around an amusement park would all qualify as a good time to enjoy a snack. How about at a competitive high school basketball game? Probably not, right?
Natalie Kmetz, the Jim Thorpe boys' basketball scorekeeper, kindly disagrees.
"We have had candy on the table ever since I started keeping the book," said Kmetz, who has been in charge of the Olympians' book for about 20 years. "Then it just started about four years ago with the gummy worms.
"I got gummy worms one time just for the heck of it. I put them on the table and they were such a big hit. At the time we were winning and winning, so I thought to myself, 'It must be the gummy worms.' And that's the way it's been for the last four years."
Since Kmetz brought out the goodies, everyone from the players to the coaches - even the referees - have gotten in on the free sweets.
"It's gotten to be that the referees love the gummy worms just as much as the players," said Kmetz. "It is so funny to see the referees put the worms in their mouth and have to blow their whistle. They put the worm on one side and blow the whistle on the other side. It's hysterical."
However, this past Monday things were a little different. Kmetz, although she said that she wasn't overly superstitious, decided to change things up a little bit.
Heading into Monday's game with Lehighton, Jim Thorpe had been on a two-game losing streak. Instead of putting the worms out on the table, Kmetz brought out valentines hearts and some other sugar candies in hopes of getting the Olympians back on track.
"I don't know whether it's superstition or what," Kmetz said. "The kids came over to the table before the game and weren't touching anything. They noticed the worms weren't out and they asked me where they were. I said I didn't buy any, but I did.
"I told Rashid (Epps) that if they scored more than Lehighton by halftime then I would bring out the worms. He said 'okay.'"
Jim Thorpe would lead Lehighton by 15 at the break and went on to win by 18.
Kmetz first started helping out 29 years ago when she did the clock for just about every sport at the school. Kmetz was one of only a few fe