蜜柚直播

Thanks to his basketball coach and some caring donors, Catalina High School鈥檚 senior captain will get that chance.

The Trojans basketball team will fly to Chicago on Dec. 26 so they can participate in a holiday tournament at Charles A. Prosser Career Academy. It鈥檚 a rare out-of-state trip for a group of players who haven鈥檛 traveled far from 蜜柚直播. Just one of Catalina鈥檚 12 players has flown on a plane before. Only a few have traveled out of the state.

鈥淚t鈥檚 everything because, for me, I鈥檝e never been in an airplane,鈥� Lugo said. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 going to be my first time traveling really far with my (basketball) family. I love these guys and to go with them to Chicago and compete in one of the best competitions in the world 鈥� when we come back, we鈥檙e going to be a better team.鈥�

The trip is the brainchild of third-year coach Obie Tann, who was born and raised in Chicago. He lived with numerous family members until age 13, when his mother came back into his life. He knows, more than most local coaches, the challenges facing athletes at schools like Catalina.

Tann also knows how important basketball 鈥� and a trip like this 鈥� can be.

鈥淔or me, basketball was my way out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 grew up with limited parental guidance 鈥� so basketball for me was 鈥業鈥檓 going to be successful, it鈥檚 going to help me get an education and it鈥檚 going to help me get wherever I go.鈥欌��

Tann began looking into tournaments shortly after school began in August. The Trojans had an opportunity to play in a New Mexico tournament, which led Tann to think: If we can play in New Mexico, why not someplace farther away?

Tann convinced Catalina officials to sign off on a Detroit tournament, but the Trojans鈥� invitation fell through. Michigan schools, it turns out, aren鈥檛 allowed to bring in opponents from more than 600 miles away.

That led to Chicago. Tann then went through his hometown contacts and found the tournament at Prosser, which was looking for one more school to fill the bracket. The Trojans are 8-1 following Tuesday鈥檚 night鈥檚 75-72 win over Desert View; they鈥檒l host Coolidge on Thursday night.

Catalina will leave on a midnight flight from Phoenix on Dec. 26 and, arriving in Chicago just before 6 a.m. The team will play its first game 13 hours later, square off in their second game the following night and play two games apiece on Dec. 28 and 29. The group will make its way back to the airport before dawn on Dec. 30 to catch a 6:30 a.m. flight back to 蜜柚直播.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited,鈥� senior Philippe Kijana said. 鈥淲e get to see different competition and spend more time with our guys. It鈥檚 actually my birthday during that week, so I get to spend it with them.鈥�

The cost for Catalina’s trip is a little more than $13,000 — a figure that doesn’t include the winter essentials Tann knows his players will need for a December trip to the Midwest. Tann and assistant Chris Stallkamp have raised much of the money themselves, but are in need of more. Email chizonahoops@gmail.com for additional information.

This season will be Tann鈥檚 last at Catalina. Tann, his wife and baby will move to Phoenix after the school year. He says being able to provide a trip like this in his final season will be special.

The departing coach said he hopes his players learn one big thing from their trip.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no limit,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing in the world that you can鈥檛 do; there鈥檚 nowhere you can鈥檛 go.鈥�