The LCM/IP Basketball Classic is Dec. 29-30 and you’ll recognize most of the teams that will be playing. What stands out is where LCM Coach Brad Jeffcoat simply listed Australia as a team.
No it’s not the Australian National Team. Although many of the players have hopes of one day playing for their country. It’s high school kids from Australia that are given the opportunity to play basketball in the states, to get exposure for possible college opportunities, and of course to have the trip of a lifetime.
“These are kids getting the experience of a lifetime,” said Coach Ben White. “They’re traveled over 9000 miles together just to get here, growing as a team, as a family.”
There are a number of teams (boys and girls) that are playing across the nation. The team coming to Orange is the Southern Peninsula Sharks. They will have a varsity and junior varsity team in the tournament.
“There are a few rules that are different from our game in Australia and we’ll deal with that. But it doesn’t outweigh the chance to get some games under our belts,” White said.
How did they find the LCM Tournament? “We work with a travel agency called Showtime Basketball. They help us find the tournaments,” said White.
“We’re glad to have them here,” said Jeffcoat. “I don’t know anything about them but I expect them to be able to play if they’re getting the opportunity to come here.”
Sometimes the team will stay with hosts families and sometimes they stay in hotels. White said the team was in Columbus (Texas) when we spoke Wednesday and will stay in an area hotel on the 29th.
I asked White if this was their season or will they play a schedule when they get home. He said their season at home is March-August which is two months longer than our four month schedule.
The kids will get a break from basketball. They’ll get to visit Disneyland before making the long trip home. They’re expected to be in the states for almost a month.
The schedule is listed below. If you’re going to watch be sure to give them a good reason to remember their trip to Orange.
-Gary Stelly, KOGT-
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