Willamette and Corban to Host Kids' Clinic on Friday

By Mark Colachico, Corban University S.I.D.

SALEM, ORE. Willamette University women's basketball Head Coach Anne Lapray in conjunction with Corban University women's basketball Head Coach Terry Williams will be hosting a children's basketball clinic on Friday, Nov. 25 at three Salem-area middle schools for kindergarten through 8th grade students.

"The three kids' clinics around town are our effort to reach out into the community to offer the youth of Salem an opportunity to have a hands on experience of being coached by the women college basketball players from around the country that will be here for the holiday tournament this weekend," said Williams. This is truly a unique experience for the eight school's athletes to demonstrate the 'Champions of Character' theme we strive to live out."

The clinics will take place at Houck Middle School, Whiteaker Middle School, and Crossler Middle School from 9:00-11:00 a.m. The cost is $5.00 plus a new or gently used article of clothing per child.

"In return for this effort, the clinics are seeking to collect donations of youth clothing for especially needy kids, infants through middle school age, through registration to the clinics," commented Williams, "It seems that the giving opportunities through these clinics has a few arms that benefit everyone involved directly and hopefully many not seen normally with tremendous needs, especially at this time of the year."

Salem-Keizer Public Schools have been gracious enough to donate the use of all three schools during the two-hour time period so that all eight teams can serve the community through the sport of basketball.

Corban and Willamette are teaming with the Salem-Keizer Public Schools to provide donated clothing for infant through middle school aged children via Salem's Family Building Blocks and the district's STEP program that provides clothes to homeless kids in the school district.

Each participating child will receive a tournament t-shirt that can worn and used for free admission to all eight games on Friday and Saturday inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center on the campus of Corban University.

Teams participating in Friday's clinic are Willamette, Corban, College of Saint Mary (Neb.), Johnson & Wales (Colo.), Menlo (Calif.), Montreat (N.C.), Northwest Christian (Ore.), and Vanguard (Calif.).

"The clinics will be a tremendous opportunity for the college players to give back as they have been so blessed with their own talents and opportunities," said Williams.

For more information about the clinic, please contact Corban's women's basketball at (503) 871-6551

NOTE: The 2011 Capital City/Bruce Henderson Memorial Holiday Tournament begins on Thursday, November 24th, with a pair of games at Willamette University at 10:00 a.m. and noon before moving to Corban that same night with games scheduled for 6 and 8 p.m. The tournament's remaining eight games will all be played inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center on the campus of Corban University beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday.