From January 22 to 25, high school basketball players from sixteen schools across four states gathered at Pacific Union College for the annual PUC Pioneers Invitational Tournament.
The participants hailed from Maine, Nebraska, Hawaii, and California, including six NCC schools: PUC Prep, Pine Hills, Rio Lindo, Pleasant Hill, Lodi, and Paradise Academies.
This annual event has become a staple on each team’s schedule, creating an atmosphere filled with excitement, teamwork, and friendship. This collaborative interaction between competitors is not lost on parents.
Kathleen, a PUC Prep mother, remarked, “For my daughter, the sports programs and tournaments have challenged her to be a better player and a more confident person. The events have fostered many lifelong friendships over the years.”
During his Sabbath vespers talk, PUC Church Pastor Nate Furness spoke about the spirit of Adventist sports. “Play hard and be competitive, but aim to elevate your sportsmanship and teamwork as Christians. It’s ok to get frustrated when things don’t go right and celebrate when they do. But when the final buzzer sounds, remember we all play for the same team—the team of Jesus Christ.”
Paradise parent Brian Ching shared, “The teachers and coaches of our sports programs have, most importantly, taught my son an enduring level of Christ-centered sportsmanship and teamwork. They have also taught how to lose gracefully.”
Featured in Northern Lights, February 13, 2025
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