Hauser Alumni Basketball Game set for Nov. 9th

Tip off for the second annual Alumni Basketball Game is set for 6:30 p.m. November 9 at Hauser Junior-Senior High School.

“It is open to anyone who is a former Hauser high school basketball player,” says Jake Miller, president of the Hope Area Chamber of Commerce, which is co-sponsoring the event.

Thirty alumni signed up for last year’s game, Jake Miller says, and the hope is more players come out this year.

“Last year we blended everyone together and all generations played one game,” he says.

Attendees are invited to a free-will pulled pork dinner that will be offered at 5:30 p.m. and the game will start one hour later, Jake Miller says. The Hope Area Chamber of Commerce will offer games between quarters for friends and families of the players, Jake Miller says, such as trying one’s hand at making a free throw.

The alumni game has become the main fundraising event intended to benefit the boys’ basketball program, Jake Miller says.

Historically, players never had to pay for their equipment, Jake Miller says. However, in recent years, a lack in funding has resulted in players having to purchase what they need out-of-pocket.

Hauser High School alumnus Adam Miller serves as chairman of the Hawcreek-Flatrock Endowment Board, which co-sponsors the event with the Hope Area Chamber of Commerce.

Last year’s event raised more than $3,500, Adam Miller says.

Proceeds from the alumni game benefit the boys basketball program and money raised through the dinner’s free-will donations benefit helps to offer grant opportunities for nonprofit organizations in the Hope area.

Looking ahead to the game, Adam Miller says he doesn’t want to set expectations but is hopeful this event exceeds last year’s in both attendance and money raised.

“I want to see the community wanting to be more involved,” he says. “I want to see more fans come out and athletes who are Hauser alumni come out to play or be recognized.”

As a former Hauser basketball player, Jake Miller the event is even more special when the stands are full.

“The community members connected with the players like to see some of those guys come back and play,” he says. “I like the community involvement.”

Nate Cangany, head boys basketball coach at Hauser Junior-Senior High School, says the game is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the Hope community and its residents.

“For me, personally, being new to the community, it’s nice to meet so many people,” Cangany says. “You hear stories about how this player was really good or that team was really good and to actually meet those people is a lot of fun for me. It gives a face to all those names and stories.”

Although watching the game is a good time, Cangany says, seeing his own players coming back in the future is what Cangany looks forward to most.

“It might be a sport, but, as a coach, you get a chance to mold young people,” he says. “And that alumni game is going to be a chance for the kids I mold to one day come back and show me where they are in their lives, how they’ve grown and to meet their families.”