DANVILLE — This Saturday night at the Mary Miller Center, one team is going to cut down the nets and enjoy one of the greatest moments as a team with a National Championship.
And while that experience is the ultimate on-court reward, there are other adventures away from basketball that are just as satisfying.
On Sunday afternoon, two of the 20 teams in this week’s NJCAA Division II National Tournament made appearances at Liberty Village of Danville, meeting the residents at both Liberty Estates and Hawthorn Inn. Greeted with cookies and inquisitive residents, the Pima Community College Aztecs and the host, Danville Area Community College Jaguars, gained a great deal of support.
“It’s just a way to give back to the community,’’ said DACC sophomore guard Jordan Dickson. “A lot of people in this community are very important to our success this season. This is our way of giving back a little bit of that support to our community.’’
Dickson added, “I’ve seen a bunch of these people at our games this season. It means a lot to us, making it to the National Tournament, and it shows the kind of support we’ve gotten from our community.’’
Pima sophomore forward Mason Pippett spent a great deal of time with Ted Zwemer and Don Elliott. Both Zwemer and Elliott are planning to attend games at the tournament, especially the Pima games.
“Everyone here in Danville does a whole lot for us to play in this tournament,’’ Pippett said. “It feels good to be able to give back and just interact with the people here at Liberty Estates. I had some really cool conversations and met some cool people. It’s a special opportunity to do something like this.’’
Getting out into the community is nothing new for either Pima or DACC.
“We do these type of things through the season,’’ DACC coach DaJuan Gouard said. “We go to schools. We got to youth basketball events. We visit nursing homes. And we help out at food pantries.’’
But, why do it the just hours before the biggest tournament of the season?
“Now is a time for us to be together more,’’ Gouard said. “We we approach our first game, that togetherness is what we need to advance to the next round.’’
And both Dickson and Pippett acknowledged their time at Liberty Village proved that there is more than basketball in life.
“Honestly, I think coming here helps,’’ Pippett said. “Sometimes when you focus on something like winning a national title too much, it can become overbearing.
“Just having this time to take your mind off of that, for just a little bit, can help you stay locked in and doing what you need to do.’’
Elinor Murphy, who has been a resident at Liberty Estates for the last two years, admits “it’s great to the meet the kids.’’
Murphy spent several minutes talking with DACC sophomore and former Oakwood standout Alec Harrison, who was more than a foot taller than Murphy.
“These boys are just so friendly and outgoing,’’ she said. “Telling us about their lives and how they got to their schools. It was a nice afternoon.’’
And Murphy plans on following both DACC and Pima.
“I have my radio and I will be listening to the games,’’ she said.
Pima will play Davidson-Davie at 9 a.m. Tuesday, while DACC takes on Mid-Michigan at 6 p.m. Tuesday.