Four teams compete in Donkey Basketball as part of fundraiser for Saratoga Rec Department
SES Teacher Heather Oxford gets her game face on as she goes in for a basket during Donkey Basketball on March 18.
Marcos Zaragoza shows he's as good at making baskets as he is at putting out fires during the Donkey Basketball games held on March 18. The Saratoga Volunteer Department were the overall winners of the event.
Saratoga is no stranger to sports involving four-legged mammals, considering the popular rise of Skijoring over the past few years and the popularity of chariot racing the decades before. On March 18, another popular sport was held at the Saratoga Recreation Department.
Donkey Basketball-a sport invented in the 1930s as Depression-era entertainment-is still alive and well in the 21st century and drew quite a crowd on Friday evening. A total of four teams took to Kristen Campbell Court for a barn burner of a mini-tournament to raise funds for the Saratoga Aquatic Center.
Staff from the Saratoga Elementary School (SES), members of the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD), Saratoga Skijoring and Barkhurst Collision mounted their trusty-if opinionated-steeds.
Round One
The first round saw the staff of SES attempt to teach a lesson to SVFD. The fire department, however, would douse their competition as they set fire to the court with a whopping 10 points during the two quarter match. Despite their best attempts to sink a basket, the players from SES would wind up with a zero for the lesson.
Round Two
In the second round, players representing Barkhurst Collision were prepared to race against members of Saratoga Skijoring. While, in the beginning, the inclusion of the Bartlett Twins on Team Barkhurst would lead one to believe the game was in their favor, the equine experience of Saratoga Skijoring proved the deciding factor.
Despite some decent shots from Barkhurst Collision, the skijoring players secured a substantial lead to win 12-6.
Round Three
In the consolation round, Barkhurst Collision faced the staff of SES. With a shot at redemption-and a chance to get out of detention-SES worked to keep the score close with Team Barkhurst. While they did better than their first lesson, making one basket against Barkhurst Collision, the game would end with an 8-2 score in favor of Barkhurst.
Round Four
In the Championship Round, the SVFD and Saratoga Skijoring vied to determine who was the top dog ... or donkey. While Saratoga Skijoring had been able to ski past Barkhurst Collision, the fire department put the fire out under their skis. Even with their equine skills, the SVFD rained buckets against Saratoga Skijoring for a final score of 10-2.
Recreation Department Director Sara Laughlin was pleased with the turnout at the event. Laughlin told the Saratoga Sun on Tuesday she was thankful not just to those who attended, but to all the businesses who helped sponsor the program.
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