Flying south for basketball

J's World, by Jeremiah Bartz

This week local hoopsters brought the term coast-to-coast to a whole new meaning.

Once in a while a local basketballer gets to go coast-to-coast after a steal and breakaway.

This week a few Valley teams departed the fridged coastline of Alaska for such places as the sunny beaches of California.

Kind of makes you jealeous huh?

I could definately use a little taste of the tropics right now. At least more than an umbrella drink and a tanning salon, which is the average Alaskan's getaway from the torturous conditions of the average Alaskan January.

This is a great opportunity for our local players. They do not just get a reminder of what the sun looks like, but they get a taste of a different environment and get to face different competition.

Colony boys head coach Phil Engebretsen said it best, it is a life experience.

Local athletes have seen places such as San Diego, Las Vegas, Hawaii, South Carolina and New York.

Off the court they get to see the sites and have a taste of what travel is like. For those planning on playing college basketball, maintaining a travel schedule becomes an important aspect of their lives.

On the court, they get to face different competition and styles. In some cases they test their skills up against some of the best. The Colony boys and the Wasilla girls each faced teams ranked in the top three of their respective state.

Finally it is a tribute to the schools and the booster clubs that have made these trips possible.

Obviously these flights and accomodations are not free.

These players have definately gotten the chance for a possible once in a lifetime experience.

And with the success of our teams in the Lower 48, it shows everyone else, those Alaskans can play basketball too.