Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Appeal tribune. (Silverton, Or.) 1999-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 2017)
Sports B1 Appeal Tribune, www.silvertonappeal.com Wednesday, January 4, 2017 PHOTOS BY ANNA REED / STATESMAN JOURNAL Blair Wheadon, a former Western Oregon University basketball player, dresses as Mrs. Claus while helping with a dribbling session during the free kid's basketball clinic, part of the Capitol City Classic tournament, at Willamette University in Salem. ‘Jingle Skills’ basketball clinic has Christmas theme GARY HOROWITZ STATESMAN JOURNAL It’s not every day that children have the opportunity to learn basketball skills from Santa Claus. That was among the highlights Dec. 22 during the Jingle Skills Rock Christ- mas Kids Clinic at Sparks Center at Wil- lamette University. The clinic, which included about 200 boys and girls ages 7 to 14, was held in conjunction with the second annual Cap- itol City Classic basketball tournament. Kids clinic director Mike McShane, a member of South Salem’s 1996 boys bas- ketball state championship team who played college hoops at Oregon and Mon- tana State, needed to look no further than his first cousin, Kevin McShane, for an ideal Santa Claus. “I asked him if he could dress up as a 6-foot-9 Santa,” Mike said of his cousin, who played college basketball at Oregon State. “I talked to him and told him what was going on and was like, ‘Man, we’ve gotta get you in a Santa suit.’” How convenient that Kevin’s mom just happened to have a Santa Claus suit that fit her tall son. In keeping with the Christmas spirit, Kevin McShane’s friend, former West- ern Oregon standout Blair Wheadon, dressed as Mrs. Claus. Talk about a re- freshing take on basketball instruction. “The reason this (kids clinic) seemed so appealing to me is that it was open to anybody,” Kevin McShane said. “Any- body could come and all the people work- ing are here because they want to be. No one’s getting paid. Let’s have some holi- day fun, let’s coach these kids, and just have a great day.” By all accounts is was a spirited suc- cess. Children were instructed on the nu- ances of the game by former Mid-Valley players and coaches who gave their time Barry Adams, left, a National Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee and former South Salem basketball coach, leads a session during the free kid's basketball clinic. ABOVE: Clackamas Community College head basketball coach Clif Wegner helps a boy during a passing session. RIGHT: Kids practice their defensive moves. for a worthy cause. “It’s a recipe for happiness, a gift to the community,” said Mike McShane, an elementary school physical education teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who re- turned home to be part of the clinic. Grayson “The Professor” Boucher, who attained international fame as a streetball player with the AND1 Mixtape Tour,” stayed well after the three-hour clinic to pose for pictures with young- sters who have followed his career. Alyvia Smart, a fifth grader at Clover- dale Elementary School in Turner, called Boucher her basketball inspiration. “He inspired me to start playing bas- ketball and try harder,” Smart said. Boucher, who grew up in Keizer and graduated from Salem Academy High School, lives near Los Angeles these days and recently returned from a five- country tour of “personal bookings.” He is a basketball wizard when it comes to dribbling and ball handing. Boucher said Thursday’s clinic took him back to his roots, attending summer basketball camps and incorporating skills he learned. “So to be able to give back to the new generation and to help them in any way I can is definitely a great feeling,” Bou- cher said. Turnout was so strong for the kids clinic that Mike McShane said the main challenge next year will be finding space to accommodate the goal of 1,000 partici- pants. He noted that it will remain free. Barry Adams, a high school coaching legend in Oregon who led a South Salem team that featured Mike McShane to the 1996 state championship, was among a distinguished group of coaches who of- fered their expertise. “This is great,” Adams said. “Basket- ball’s always been about kids.” ghorowitz@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6726 or Twitter.com/ghorowitz Kids practice dribbling during the free kid's basketball clinic, part of the Capitol City Classic tournament, at Willamette University.