Las Plumas HS basketball players give back to local youth

OROVILLE, Calif. — For Las Plumas High basketball players, it's more than just being on the court. To them, it's a love for the game.

"I've been playing basketball since I was little, around the age of two, when my dad introduced me to basketball," Trent Thompson, a sophomore basketball player at Las Plumas High.

But when the team heard that Upward Basketball League, a youth basketball program designed for boys and girls, desperately needed officials, referees and volunteers, they decided to help out.

"My boys' basketball team decided to help out the Upwards Basketball League," said Dr. Lamar Collins, principal of Las Plumas High School. "They did not have enough officials. And me, and the athletic director, always talked about the fact that our kids need to give back. We have kids come and pack our stands at basketball games and it's important for our kids to give back to the community, so when they needed officials, it was a no-brainer."

"We decided to volunteer to help the kids out so they can play games. Because, if you don't have any referees, you can't play," Martin Soria, a junior basketball player at Las Plumas High.

While volunteering, it hit closer to home for some players, like Soria and Thompson, who had their little siblings play in the league.

"It was pretty funny because my little sister is playing that league too, so it was the first game I wrapped. And, it was enjoyable," said Soria.

"It was fun because my little brother was playing," said Thompson.

Overall, the team said they would do it again for the community. Dr. Collins noted he was proud of his students that they kept volunteering for almost the entire season, giving up their Saturdays, saying, "I was super impressed and super proud."

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