Dribble, dribble, dribble… shoot!
District-sponsored basketball returns to Salem-Keizer after 29 years
The noise wasn’t overly loud, but decidedly enthusiastic in the small gym of Stephens Middle School in East Salem. Boys at one end and girls at the other were involved in their last practice before the start of district-sponsored basketball contests at the middle school level—something that hasn’t happened in nearly three decades.
The pilot program set up by District Athletics Coordinator Lara Tiffin, provides equipment, coaches, and transportation to and from school sites for games held between February 28th and March 21st. The pilot brings to an end, years of middle school basketball limited solely to outside community programs—ranging from the Boys and Girls Club to the non-profit SKY Ball program—good offerings that still require parents to arrange transportation to and from various game locations.
First-year boys coach Jamer Silva Altamirano blows his whistle and gets his team to come closer together, reminding all 15 young men that this is the last chance to prepare before their games Tuesday against Straub and Walker Middle Schools at Straub in West Salem.
“These are all eighth graders,” Altamirano told me. “Some have never played the game before.”
“I want to get these kids going right when it comes to playing the game of basketball.”
The 22-year old Altamirano is a graduate of McKay High School, which receives the students from Stephens every year. He was an athlete at McKay, although he wrestled rather than played basketball as a student. Still, he had always wanted to play hoops, and believes that coaching is an effective way to connect with the kids at Stephens—where he works as campus security.
“I want to have an impact on the kids—and this seems like a great way to do it,” Jamer admits.
Coaches have had just two weeks to prepare their players for the season—and that includes a short tryout process. Two things are apparent on the last day of preseason practice—the participants are athletes, and teamwork is a concept still under construction. Early scrimmage situations seem to involve handing the ball to a player who almost invariably launches the ball at the rim without hesitation.
That approach is nipped-in-the-bud minutes later as Coach Altamirano and his staff instruct players in moving without the ball, and cutting to the bucket to receive a pass for a layup. Multiple runs through the drill makes the point clear, and the shots become increasingly accurate and confident.
Players will learn many on-court lessons like this one during the season. They will also absorb lessons that involve non-basketball issues. Lessons like maintaining grades—behaving in class—showing respect for each other and the coaches.
Two team members with vastly different hoops backgrounds agree. 14-year old Luke Duncan—who has played hoops since the age of 5—and 14-year old Juan Alonso—a standout soccer player, but a new comer to basketball—understand teamwork and sportsmanship and considerate behavior are all part of playing for Stephens. They also appreciate the chance to play on behalf of their school—as Bulldogs.
“It’s great—we get to play for our school, and the school supports us, too,” says Luke.
“It is good to be a part of this, to support the school and have fun doing it,” echoes Juan.
All team members have signed a parent-coach contract, agreeing to keep their grades up, and keep their behavior on the straight-and-narrow. Both Luke and Juan agree it is the right move for everyone involved.
“It’s good because it (the contract) motivates us to do good in school,” says Luke.
Luke, who likes his science class the best, and Juan—who is a weights class guy—say having everyone on the same page is the best way to hold each other accountable. They are also hopeful the team will become closer as the season wears on. Juan put it this way:
“We have some good shooters, but some (of us) talk over the coach, which needs to stop. A team is a team.”
So after 29 years outside the school district loop, basketball has returned to the middle schools directly. If all goes as hoped, hoopsters will become closer as a group, and could—in the process—become a catalyst for increased school spirit and unity. And the pilot basketball program could in turn, transform into a permanent part of district-sponsored athletics for the local area’s youngest teens.
NOTE: DUE TO cancellation of school because of snow, Tuesday’s games have been rescheduled for Thursday.