New backboards boost basketball at Mackenzie Primary School

…sourced by Brusche Basketball Foundation

Basketball may again soon become a focal point of sport at the Mackenzie Primary School, following a timely donation to the school on Tuesday. A pair of basketball backboards, sponsored by Luckie Lawson, have been solicited by the United States-based Brusches Basketball Foundation.
Lawson is a past resident of the area where the school is located in Kara Kara, Linden.
Conducting the simple handing-over ceremony, which took place on a miniaturised concrete court in the compound of the Mackenzie Primary School on Tuesday, was US-based former national captain James Brusche. On the receiving end was Head Teacher Camille Cummings.
Before the presentation, James Brusche informed that, every other year, the Brusches Basketball Foundation conduct clinics for school children in Guyana. He also highlighted that his two brothers, Clifton and Michael (former national players), who also reside in the United States, created the basketball foundation, and are committed to improving the development of the game locally.
Just before conducting the basketball clinic, 25 boys and girls from the institution were presented with branded uniforms, compliments of the overseas-based basketball body.

Brusche, who in 1981 was among the first Guyanese to be selected on a Caricom All Star Team following an excellent showing at the Caribbean Basketball Championship which were held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, told the children at the clinic that the sport can become a major part of their future.
“We hope this will help you in the future, as basketball is life. People from all walks of life have played it. We hope these few exercises we are going to give you today will do you well, being away from your laptops and gadgets.”
Also in attendance at the presentation was Region 10 Chairman (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) Deron Adams, who lauded the efforts of the Brusches Basketball Foundation and noted its significance from the point of view that persons in the diaspora were giving back.

“A child’s involvement in sport helps to improve many things: social interaction, confidence, and of course it improves his thinking; because, of course, you have to listen,” Adams said.
He congratulated the Brusches Basketball Foundation for mirroring his vision to assist those children in various communities through training. Chairman Adams said he looked forward to Government implementing programmes with various coaches employed to impart their knowledge at the nursery, primary and secondary schools, knowing that Linden and the region have been producing top class athletes over the years.
In accepting the two imported backboards, Camille Cummings, the Headteacher of Mackenzie Primary School, thanked the Brusches Basketball Foundation and donors on behalf her staff, parents and pupils.
Cummings, in her acceptance speech, assured James Brusche that the school would take good care of the equipment.
The basketball clinic allowed the kids to learn the basics in passing, dribbling and shooting the basketball, which was conducted by Brusche, who was assisted by Caeron Sealey.