ANTS INVADE MAPLEWOOD

Friday afternoon the Mad Ants invaded Maplewood Elementary School in Waynedale. The pro basketball players along with two of their coaches were there to emphasize the Hoops for Hearts program which heightens awareness to the risks of heart disease.

Coach Kent Dawison, Mad Ants head coach, spoke to the fourth and fifth graders as they sat on the gymnasium floor. Coach paced back and forth in front of the students and every now and then he would toss the ball to one of the kids. He said, “Pay attention because you never know when the ball will come your way.” Coach made the analogy that the Maplewood teachers toss ideas at them everyday. If they aren’t paying attention, those ideas will bounce off their heads just like a basketball. Coach Dawison also emphasized the need to set and achieve goals.

Coach Jaren Jackson along with players Earl Calloway, Corey Minnifield, Larry Turner, Eric Smith and Nate Gerwig were also in attendance. They split the kids into groups and each player assisted a group in various basketball exercises. They dribbled, did lay-ups, shot jumpers and experimented with controlled pandemonium.