BROOKINGS The Brookings boys basketball team was in action last weekend but not on the hardwood. The team showed up at the Old Sanctuary to volunteer some manpower and help set up this years Project Joy event.
We just started (practices) on Monday, so yeah. This service project was actually before our first day, Mike McCarty, head boys basketball coach said. But building those team bonding skills and being able to work together like this is only going to help us work better on the basketball court.
Project Joy is a local non-profit that has, for more than 20 years, provided free Christmas gifts to children of local families in need. McCarty said hes proud to have his team learn the value of community service by working with them.
We had the boys come in and volunteer to help the Project Joy event get set up. So they come in and put the poles and curtains that get connected throughout the event center. They get some of the toys organized. They get the wrapping station and the entryway all prepared, McCarty said. We had 22 boys there, and it took about an hour and a half from start to finish We went and got some of the supplies. We had a few boys who went and caravanned out (to a warehouse) to help load up a truck and then bring those supplies. So getting the area ready involved moving some tables and chairs and some of those things to help get them set up.
He said the players worked cooperatively, displaying an enthusiastic spirit that made him proud.
The attitude was really positive. I think they had a good sense of helping out and being able to do a service for other people, McCarty said. You know, as we got going, just seeing them work together it took three to four players to put some of the poles together, going up over your head, eight or nine feet tall, and then putting the curtains on. It all takes a level of teamwork, and it was definitely some positive interactions taking place. They had a lot of smiles while they were doing that.
All the athletic programs at Brookings High School are encouraged to do service projects. This is McCartys second year coaching, and hes had the team volunteer for Project Joy both seasons.
Weve done Project Joy both years as our service project. We talked with the representative there, and we plan to do it again next year. So as of right now, thats kind of what we do as our team event, McCarty said. It is definitely something that is important being able to help families throughout the community and help them enjoy some special Christmas memories and things that are provided through the Project Joy foundation.
Having a squad of young, energetic athletes available made all the work go by quickly. But McCarty hopes the team learned lessons that will stay with them for a lifetime.
We want to create strong, well-rounded individuals outside of the basketball court as well. So that includes in the community, in the classroom and on the basketball court. Theyre developing and creating those lifelong skills that can have a positive impact, McCarty said. Those same types of skills and character traits are things that can translate to all areas of life. Developing those in different environments and different situations helps instill those skills that youre able to use at various points in your life. So hopefully, theyll be able to use those not only on the basketball court but anywhere else in their lives whether at school, or at home or in the community.
The teams home opener is Friday, Dec. 13 when they host Watertown. McCarty joked that doing a pre-season good deed might bring them a little good luck on gameday.
Well maybe counteract some of the bad luck of Friday the 13th hopefully, he said. Even though our record wasnt very strong last year, I felt that we were very competitive with all the AA schools that we compete against. I was proud of the boys that we had, and Im looking forward to this year.
Regardless of how the game goes, he said hes pleased the team has already demonstrated character, compassion and teamwork.
Thats something that we want to instill within our program, McCarty said. Giving back to the community, you know helping out families in need and having this opportunity is something that were very happy we can help out with. And we look forward to continuing that tradition.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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