Key Takeaways

• The Luka Doncic Foundation partners with Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA to pilot a new coaching curriculum with 100 youth athletes during NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles
• A spring 2026 grant program will support athletes ages 12-15 across all sports in 11 countries, addressing financial and logistical barriers to participation
• The Total Hoops Curriculum emphasizes mistake-friendly coaching and joy-centered play, piloting an alternative approach to youth basketball development
• Foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager says the initiatives aim to make youth sports “a joyful, enriching force in the lives of kids around the world”

Building a New Coaching Model Around Joy and Mistakes

The Luka Doncic Foundation is developing the Total Hoops Curriculum, a coaching framework designed to shift how youth basketball instruction is delivered. The curriculum centers on free play, embracing mistakes as learning opportunities, and prioritizing athlete enjoyment over competitive outcomes.

The foundation describes the approach as creating “a system of coaching that allows kids to play freely, embrace mistakes, and rediscover their love of the game.” Rather than focusing solely on skill advancement or winning, the model aims to make the court a place young athletes choose to return to.

Foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager explained the strategic intent behind the programming: “Each of these partnerships was carefully developed to move the Luka Doncic Foundation forward in pursuit of its mission to ensure youth sports are a joyful, enriching force in the lives of kids around the world.”

Testing the Model at NBA All-Star Weekend

The foundation will partner with the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA to host a pilot clinic during NBA All-Star 2026 in Los Angeles. Coaches trained in the Total Hoops Approach will work with 100 youth athletes ages 9-15 from across the Los Angeles area.

The clinic serves as a testing ground for the curriculum’s core techniques. According to the foundation, the goal is to demonstrate what youth sports can provide beyond competition: friendship, confidence, and joy. The pilot will inform how the curriculum is refined and potentially scaled to other programs.

Expanding Access Through International Grant Program

The foundation plans to open applications in spring 2026 for a grant program supporting athletes ages 12-15 across all sports, not just basketball. The program will operate in 11 countries: United States, United Kingdom, China, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia.

Grants are designed to help young athletes overcome barriers to participation, whether financial, logistical, or resource-related. The foundation has not yet disclosed the grant amounts or total number of recipients.

Luka Doncic, who established the foundation in 2024, emphasized continuity in the organization’s approach. “I’m so proud of all of the work we’ve accomplished in the year since we’ve launched, and I can’t wait to see what else we can do together,” Doncic said. “If we can continue providing opportunities to young athletes, and making sports more accessible and fun, I’ll know we did something right.”

Looking Ahead

The foundation’s first-year initiatives signal a multi-pronged strategy: changing how coaches interact with young athletes, testing that model in a high-visibility setting, and removing barriers to entry for kids in multiple countries. The World Basketball Day announcement marks the foundation’s shift from formation to implementation, with measurable programs launching in 2026.

Whether the Total Hoops Curriculum gains traction beyond the pilot clinic will depend on coaching adoption rates and how effectively the model translates to different competitive environments. The grant program’s reach will be determined by funding scale and application volume across 11 countries.

via: Lakers Nation

YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.

About Youth Sports Business Report

Youth Sports Business Report is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis covering the $54 billion youth sports market. Trusted by over 50,000 followers including industry executives, investors, youth sports parents and sports business professionals, we are the premier destination for comprehensive youth sports business intelligence.

Our core mission: Make Youth Sports Better. As the leading authority in youth sports business reporting, we deliver unparalleled coverage of sports business trends, youth athletics, and emerging opportunities across the youth sports ecosystem.

Our expert editorial team provides authoritative, in-depth reporting on key youth sports industry verticals including:

• Sports sponsorship and institutional capital (Private Equity, Venture Capital)
• Youth Sports events and tournament management
• NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) developments and compliance
• Youth sports coaching and sports recruitment strategies
• Sports technology and data analytics innovation
• Youth sports facilities development and management
• Sports content creation and digital media monetization

Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.

Join our growing community of 50,000+ industry leaders who depend on our trusted youth sports business analysis to drive success in the youth sports industry.

Stay connected with the pulse of the youth sports business – where industry expertise meets actionable intelligence.

Sign up for the biggest newsletter in Youth Sports – Youth Sports HQ – The best youth sports newsletter in the industry 

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow Youth Sports Business Report Founder Cameron Korab on LinkedIn

Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?

Introducing Play Up Partners, a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

About Play Up Partners

Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

Why Sponsor Youth Sports?

Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty.

What Does Play Up Partners Do?

We’ve done the heavy lifting to untangle the complex youth sports landscape so our brand partners can engage with clarity, confidence, and impact. Our vetted network of accredited youth sports organizations (from local leagues to national tournaments and operators) allows us to create flexible, scalable programs that evolve with the market.

Our Approach

Every partnership we build is rooted in authenticity and value creation. We don’t just broker deals. We craft youth sports marketing strategies that:

• Deliver measurable ROI for brand partners
• Create meaningful experiences for athletes and families
• Elevate the youth sports ecosystem

Our Vision

We’re positioning youth sports as the most desirable and effective platform in sports marketing. Our mission is simple: MAKE YOUTH SPORTS BETTER for athletes, families, organizations, and brand partners.

Common Questions About Youth Sports Marketing

Where can I sponsor youth sports? How do I activate in youth sports? What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? How much does youth sports sponsorship cost?

We have answers. Reach out to info@playuppartners.com to learn how Play Up Partners can help your brand navigate the youth sports landscape.

Youth sports organizations: Interested in partnership opportunities? Reach out to learn about our accreditation process.

Key Takeaways

• Zorts Sports, a tournament management platform, partnered with GAME Network to integrate operations with livestreaming and content distribution
• The collaboration connects Zorts’ registration, scheduling, and scoring tools with GAME Network’s broadcast capabilities
• GAME Network has produced content featuring athletes including Tetairoa McMillan, Elic Ayomanor, and Mason Graham
• Partnership enables tournament directors to access expanded media coverage for Zorts-powered events
• The deal aims to create a pipeline from team registration through post-game highlights and athlete features

Linking Operations to Broadcast Capabilities

Zorts Sports announced a partnership with GAME Network that connects tournament management tools with media distribution infrastructure. Zorts provides end-to-end solutions including online registration, scheduling, live scoring, eligibility checks, and age verification for youth and amateur tournaments.

GAME Network operates a sports streaming platform focused on athlete-driven content across football, basketball, baseball, track, and cheer. The network has worked with high school programs including Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, Bishop Gorman, and St. Frances Academy, along with collegiate programs at Arizona, USC, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, and LSU.

The partnership allows events powered by Zorts to access GAME Network’s livestreaming platform and digital content distribution system.

Addressing the Operations-to-Media Gap

Tournament operators using Zorts can now connect their events with GAME Network’s broadcast ecosystem. The integration is designed to move athletes and families from registration through game coverage and highlight distribution within a single connected system.

The partnership enables featured livestreams of select Zorts-powered events, coverage of elite tournaments, athlete spotlight segments, and promotional support for participating organizations. Tournament directors gain media options without requiring separate broadcast arrangements.

Expanding Visibility for Youth and Amateur Athletes

GAME Network has produced content featuring rising football prospects and works across multiple sports categories. The platform focuses on following athletes from youth sports through collegiate and professional levels.

Through the Zorts partnership, youth, high school, and collegiate athletes competing in Zorts-powered tournaments gain access to potential livestream coverage, athlete features, and digital media distribution. The scope of coverage will depend on event selection and production capacity.

Looking Ahead

The Zorts and GAME Network partnership reflects ongoing efforts to connect tournament operations with media distribution in youth and amateur sports. Tournament directors using Zorts gain access to broadcast capabilities, while GAME Network expands its content pipeline through established tournament infrastructure.

The integration creates a pathway for athlete exposure tied directly to competitive events, reducing friction between operations and media coverage for youth sports organizations.

YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.

About Youth Sports Business Report

Youth Sports Business Report is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis covering the $54 billion youth sports market. Trusted by over 50,000 followers including industry executives, investors, youth sports parents and sports business professionals, we are the premier destination for comprehensive youth sports business intelligence.

Our core mission: Make Youth Sports Better. As the leading authority in youth sports business reporting, we deliver unparalleled coverage of sports business trends, youth athletics, and emerging opportunities across the youth sports ecosystem.

Our expert editorial team provides authoritative, in-depth reporting on key youth sports industry verticals including:

• Sports sponsorship and institutional capital (Private Equity, Venture Capital)
• Youth Sports events and tournament management
• NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) developments and compliance
• Youth sports coaching and sports recruitment strategies
• Sports technology and data analytics innovation
• Youth sports facilities development and management
• Sports content creation and digital media monetization

Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.

Join our growing community of 50,000+ industry leaders who depend on our trusted youth sports business analysis to drive success in the youth sports industry.

Stay connected with the pulse of the youth sports business – where industry expertise meets actionable intelligence.

Sign up for the biggest newsletter in Youth Sports – Youth Sports HQ – The best youth sports newsletter in the industry 

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow Youth Sports Business Report Founder Cameron Korab on LinkedIn

Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?

Introducing Play Up Partners, a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

About Play Up Partners

Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

Why Sponsor Youth Sports?

Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty.

What Does Play Up Partners Do?

We’ve done the heavy lifting to untangle the complex youth sports landscape so our brand partners can engage with clarity, confidence, and impact. Our vetted network of accredited youth sports organizations (from local leagues to national tournaments and operators) allows us to create flexible, scalable programs that evolve with the market.

Our Approach

Every partnership we build is rooted in authenticity and value creation. We don’t just broker deals. We craft youth sports marketing strategies that:

• Deliver measurable ROI for brand partners
• Create meaningful experiences for athletes and families
• Elevate the youth sports ecosystem

Our Vision

We’re positioning youth sports as the most desirable and effective platform in sports marketing. Our mission is simple: MAKE YOUTH SPORTS BETTER for athletes, families, organizations, and brand partners.

Common Questions About Youth Sports Marketing

Where can I sponsor youth sports? How do I activate in youth sports? What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? How much does youth sports sponsorship cost?

We have answers. Reach out to info@playuppartners.com to learn how Play Up Partners can help your brand navigate the youth sports landscape.

Youth sports organizations: Interested in partnership opportunities? Reach out to learn about our accreditation process.

In 2003, Christy Keswick (B’97) drove a U-Haul from western Massachusetts to Boston. In the back of the box truck were 500 Spalding basketballs.

A week prior, Keswick had trekked to Spalding’s then headquarters armed with just a PowerPoint presentation. She left with her first donation pledge. The only thing left was to pick up and store a truckload of basketballs, all within a week.

Keswick is the co-founder and president of Good Sports. The nonprofit organization collects and donates new sports equipment for underprivileged youth around the U.S. 

More than two decades since that cross-state drive, Good Sports has donated to more than 10 million children across the country. 

“Good Sports is trying to break down barriers to access for kids to play youth sports and to get involved in physical activity,” Keswick said. “We know that sports have an impact on social, emotional, physical, mental and academic [well-being]. We can’t start saying certain kids have access to something like that while certain kids don’t. That is what drives us as an organization.”

The Roots of Good Sports 

Keswick grew up in a small town in Connecticut and loved sports from an early age. When she was a little girl, she joined her town’s new youth soccer league. She was the only girl on her team and felt out of place, but her father kept encouraging her.

“Soccer ended up being a sport that I gravitated toward. It was always a safe place to be,” she said. “Sports was something I did every day, spent a lot of time on courts and fields. I learned a ton from sports in terms of teamwork and just life skills.”

She took her love for sports with her to the Hilltop.

Keswick cheered on her friends playing for Georgetown’s basketball, soccer and football teams. She also coached a Little League team with her best friend and stayed active by running around the hilly streets of the Georgetown neighborhood. 

In the classroom, Keswick valued her liberal arts education. She took to heart the Jesuit value of cura personalis and the importance of developing every part of herself.

“It’s not one thing that makes you successful. It’s many things and experiences over time that make you successful,” she said.

Keswick studied finance and marketing in the McDonough School of Business, where she developed the business acumen she would later use as a nonprofit founder. During her junior year, she interned with Ernst & Young and its Entrepreneur of the Year program. She learned about what it takes to build a start-up company, lessons she would use several years later as the co-founder of Good Sports.

Launching a Nonprofit Start-Up

After graduating from Georgetown, Keswick worked in management consulting in Boston. On her first day of work, Keswick met her colleague Melissa Harper, who would become a good friend and the co-founder and CEO of Good Sports.

Keswick loved to research, create strategies and solve problems for her clients. But she also wanted to implement the strategies she was creating and build something herself, not hop between projects every few months. She wanted to do something more meaningful, she said.

During a scuba diving trip with Harper in Key West, Florida, the two friends dreamed about building a business together. It was the first play in what would eventually become a game plan for Good Sports.

Keswick and Harper wanted to channel their love for sports into a business in the Boston area. Through research, they recognized that participation in youth sports had been declining, and many children were being priced out of sports.

The two also realized that Massachusetts was a hub for sports equipment companies and manufacturing, including firms such as New Balance, Reebok, Puma and, at the time, Spalding.

“If we could build a model where these companies could provide their excess equipment they weren’t selling, maybe we could redistribute it to organizations that need it and help solve this problem,” Keswick.

In 2003, Keswick and Harper founded Good Sports and put their business model to the test. Back then, entrepreneurship was not as common a path as it is today, Keswick said. Quitting their consulting jobs was a huge risk.

“You can’t build a business on the side, but you quickly learn that no one wants to give you any money to do it until you prove the business model,” Keswick said. “As scary as it was, it felt so energizing to be able to think about building something on your own.

“If you’re going to build a nonprofit, you’ve got to be passionate about the mission. We just felt really good about what we might be able to build together if we could get this right. That kept us going.”

Making Sports Available for All Kids

Today, Good Sports has donated almost $130 million worth of sports equipment to high-need communities in the U.S.

When Good Sports received its first donation, Keswick and Harper had no idea where to store 500 basketballs. They stuffed their cars, apartments, friends’ homes, anywhere they could find until they could identify communities that need sports equipment.

Now, the nonprofit operates a 45,000-square-foot warehouse to sort donations. The organization has also grown to 30 full-time employees.

As president, Keswick leads the organization’s strategy, business development and marketing. Over the last two decades, Keswick has formed partnerships with prominent brands like Gatorade, Under Armour and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Good Sports also regularly collaborates with professional athletes such as Steph Curry and Paige Bueckers.

In November, the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Alliance awarded Keswick with the 2025 GEA Entrepreneurial Excellence Award for Best of Social Impact. Keswick said she was proud to be awarded by her alma mater and to see Georgetown recognizing social impact entrepreneurship.

“I think recognizing that there are people who are doing this for a different kind of return and a different kind of impact, that made me proud as a Georgetown alum that they’re thinking in that way,” she said. “It was a pretty incredible experience.”

In looking ahead, Keswick is focused on positioning Good Sports to thrive well into the future, beyond her leadership.

“We have built the foundation of a company that is going to thrive beyond the founders. That is something that we care deeply about and that we are focused on as an organization,” she said. “There’s more to do here, and the work we are doing is critically important.”

For Hoyas looking to get into entrepreneurship, Keswick recommends leaning on others, especially Georgetown alumni, and having patience while building a strong business foundation.

“There has to be some unmet demand, some unmet need that makes this make sense. Or, you need to figure out how to be a disruptor around something you can do better,” she said. “If you can identify that, then you can be creative about how to approach it. Just know that you’re never going to be able to do this alone. Building a business is definitely a team sport.”

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) — In honor of “World Basketball Day’ on Sunday, the Basketball Hall of Fame held a special youth basketball clinic in collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Springfield.

The event welcomed local students to participate in training drills and learn the fundamentals of basketball.

The Marketing and PR Manager of the Hall of Fame, Kiana Lowe, says, “The clinic is mostly sponsored by the NBA. So, we are focusing on young kids from sixth grade and under…Just learning the fundamentals of basketball. What basketball is about. What it takes to be a basketball player…The commitment, determination, and also the camaraderie that comes with basketball… Basketball is a team sport for a reason. And we really wanted to highlight that today.”

The event also had an appearance from special guest former NBA Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams who had some words of advice for kids who dream of a future in basketball.

Carter-Williams says, “Yeah, I mean, just, you know, work hard. Be a good person, right? Try to be the healthiest person you could possibly be… And just chase your dreams, right? Never let anyone deter that… If you want to do something, you know, practice it every day and don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

This year’s World Basketball Day celebration also coincided with the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, the organization where the game of basketball was originally introduced in 1891.

Copyright 2025. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.

In a game with youngsters at Kalama Intermediate School before the games at the Maui Classic women’s basketball tournament, University of Hawai‘i junior guard Jovi Lefotu couldn’t stop her competitive side from coming out.

Lefotu, the only player from Hawai‘i on the Rainbow Wahine roster, was thrilled to play in the Maui Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Erdman Athletic Center on the Seabury Hall campus, but she might have been more excited to interact with Maui youngsters. 

UH beat Liberty 67-58 on Friday when Lefotu scored 9 points and dished out 3 assists, but the Rainbow Wahine lost on Saturday to Montana State 72-56 when Lefotu was limited to 2 points, 1 assist and committed 5 turnovers.

Lefotu, an ‘Iolani School graduate from Kaneohe, O‘ahu, played a game called “land, sea, air” with Kalama students and teammates that involves jumping from spot to spot or into the air at the right time. Lefotu beat UH teammate Bailey Flavell in the championship match of the friendly competition.

“They’re so cute,” Lefotu said of the students that the Rainbow Wahine interacted with Friday morning, playing games, holding a question and answer “talk story” session and doing about 30 minutes of basketball drills and interaction. “They had a lot of energy and we played games. We talked with them and it made our day just to be with them and spend time with them and get to know them — they asked us a lot of questions.” 

Lefotu added, “I hope we impacted them as much as they impacted us.”

Oregon State University started the tournament, involving four teams, in 2016 and it has been played every year since with the exception of 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oregon State improved to 15-3 in the event with a 53-51 win over Montana State on Friday and a 64-57 win over Liberty on Saturday. The Beavers go home to Corvallis, Ore., with an 8-5 record, while UH is now 6-6.

Hawai‘i beat Chaminade 73-31 in an exhibition game last season at Ka‘ulaheanuiokamoku Gym at Kamehameha Schools Maui, but the games this weekend were the first games that counted that the Rainbow Wahine have ever played on Maui.

“Anytime we can come to a Neighbor Island, it’s fabulous,” Hawai‘i coach Laura Beeman said. “I wish we could play several times a year on every Neighbor Island, not just O‘ahu. Unfortunately, our schedule doesn’t allow it and we sometimes need that home court advantage. But I’m so appreciative of the fans that came out tonight that supported us. We felt the aloha, which was great. … We absolutely love coming to Maui. It’s just, it’s such a special place.”

Beeman said the trip to Maui can be a recruiting tool.

“Anytime that you can come here, not only for us to watch kids, but for kids to watch us and say, ‘hey, I want to be a part of that coaching staff, that program, that culture, that ‘ohana,’ ” Beeman said. “We want local kids to want to play for us.”

Oregon State head coach Scott Rueck and Ben Prangnell, the founder of nonprofit organization Vertical Sports Maui, the tournament organizer, met 15 years ago when they were both part of a youth basketball clinic on Maui. Rueck became the head coach at OSU soon after and he stayed in touch with Prangnell and the Maui Classic developed from an idea to reality in 2016.

The Maui Classic started being played at War Memorial Gym in Wailuku and has also been played at the Lahaina Civic Center and South Maui Gym, but has now been held for the last three years at the Erdman Athletic Center on the Seabury Hall campus. 

It has become a center point of the Beavers’ annual schedule.

“This trip is so meaningful for so many reasons,” Rueck said. “A, to look forward to. It’s always nice to have something like that. Certainly recruiting, it helps. But the real payoff is once we’re here, and not only to attempt to impact, but to feel the impact that we’re having on the community.”

Rueck added, “And then it’s also amazing to feel the reward for showing up and being supported and loved so well by a place that really has become our second home over the years. And so, this is a beautiful event. We’re so grateful for Vertical Sports, the people in Maui for supporting us so well. And it’s certainly a highlight of the year.”

“This trip was a blessing for us,” Oregon State junior guard Kennedie Shuler said after scoring 9 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists on Friday. “This is my third year here, so I’m so glad for all my new teammates that this is their first time just to come see Maui.”

Shuler added that the team was able to put in some community service time with Seabury Hall.

“It’s a beautiful place to play basketball, but even better than that, it’s an amazing time for us to give back to the community,” Shuler said.

The Hawai‘i team lined up for a post-game group photo with the Maui High School girls team. The Sabers are the defending Maui Interscholastic League champions.

“I’m glad to see high school girls from Maui watch us come out and play,” Lefotu said. “Just being an inspiration for Hawai‘i girls and to show them if you’re from Hawai‘i, you still can make it big. You just gotta work hard. … It’s always fun to play in front of your home state.”

Maui High’s Naiara Bal, the only senior on the Maui High team, said: “It was such a good experience and fun to watch. It’s very cool to see (UH) come here, finally, so we can watch. I love the way they play.”

Montana State went home to Bozeman, Mont., with a 7-4 record after going 1-1 here. The Bobcats visited Lokelani Intermediate School in Kīhei on Wednesday. It is the third time Montana State has been part of the Maui Classic.

“Well, it’s a great trip, number one,” MSU coach Tricia Binford said. “Oregon State does a great job of investing in the community here, so it’s a win in a beautiful area to get two really great games. All four teams here won their conferences last year, but more importantly, we get to give a little bit back to this great community. So, I love that we get to serve some people while we’re here and show some great role models.”

Liberty traveled 16 hours to get here Tuesday from their campus in Lynchburg, Va. The Flames (6-5) visited Kīhei Charter School for their interaction with Maui students, as is the tradition for every team that plays on the Maui Classic.

“It’s amazing. I mean, this event is bigger than basketball,” Liberty coach Alexis Sherard said. “Just to have an opportunity to go into the community, to give back to the community, just for our team to have the experience of going to the middle school and pour into those middle school kids’ hearts and give them hope and let them know, ‘hey, you can be a champion.’ … All of our players, they were in middle school as well, and look where they are now.“

Sherard concluded, “I think they really enjoyed our team. Our team enjoyed them. So hopefully we were able to touch at least one student’s heart.”

“Monday Morning Maui Sports” columns appear weekly on Monday mornings with updates on local sports in the Maui Interscholastic League and elsewhere around Maui County. Please send column ideas — anything having to do with sports in Maui County — as well as results and photos to rob@hjinow.org.

West Fargo United won its game at Starion Sports Complex Cadillac Rink against the Mandan Braves on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, ending 5-2.

The Braves took the lead early in the first period, with a goal from Brenna Bauman. Emline Brincks and Hannah Berreth assisted.

The second period ended with a 3-2 lead for the Packers.

The Packers increased the lead to 4-2 early in the third period when Emma Hassler netted one again, assisted by Payton Stocker and Kaylee Augdahl.

Emma Hassler made it 5-2 with a goal late in the third, assisted by Ava Josephsen and Stella Gimberline.

The teams play each other again on January 30th.

Coming up:

The Braves will go up against the Devils Lake Firebirds at Burdick Arena on Friday, Jan. 02, 2026, while the Packers will battle Fargo Davies on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.

Read more prep coverage

north dakota girls hockey

Scoring:

North Dakota, Starion Sports Complex Cadillac Rink

6th December 2025

West Fargo United at Mandan Braves

2-5

1st period:

Mandan Braves, 0–1 (6:41) Brenna Bauman

2nd period:

1–1 (24:59) Kaylee Augdahl, 1–2 (27:10) Afton Leingang, 2–2 (30:12) Stella Gimberline, 3–2 (36:17) Emma Hassler

3rd period:

4–2 (43:59) Emma Hassler, 5–2 (54:06) Emma Hassler

Automated articles produced by United Robots on behalf of The Rink Live.