Tuesday, May 7, 2024
The Lipan High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams get the chance to play on the big stage at American Airlines Center in Dallas, home of the Dallas Mavericks, on Dec 20.
This is not the first time the district has had a chance at this opportunity as they played there eight years ago, according to Brent Gaylor, boys basketball coach.
“It is a pretty neat experience for everyone as it will be most of the players’ only opportunity to do something like this,” Gaylor told the HCN. “Many of our players have never even been to an NBA (National Basketball Association) game much less gotten to play an actual game on the same court and in the same venue as NBA players. I know they are excited and looking forward to it. I hope it’s a neat experience that they will remember forever.”
The Lady Indians will play at 1:30 p.m. against the Bullard Lady Panthers with the boys’ game following immediately afterward against the Ector Eagles. The students will then get to watch the Dallas Mavericks face the Los Angeles Clippers at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s like something crazy to think, because I’ve never played in such a big arena. Watching the NBA at night as a kid in Italy and now playing in their arena is something crazy,” foreign exchange student Alberto Andretta said.
Tickets for the game must be purchased through the link on the Lipan ISD website. Tickets purchased are Maverick’s game tickets that will give access to both high school games and the Mavericks game. Fans will sit on the lower-level section 106-107 for the high school games and will sit in purchased seat locations for the Maverick’s game. Fans will be asked to exit the arena after the high school games are over and will be able to re-enter the doors at 6 p.m.
For additional questions, reach out to Marquie Greene at marquise.greene@dallasmavs.com or 214-658-7607.
