Donkey basketball raises funds for Ironwood PTO

IRONWOOD - The Luther L. Wright gymnasium was filled to the rafters Thursday as the school held its first donkey basketball game in almost two decades.

The game, which was a fundraiser for the school's parent teacher organization, was inspired by Ironwood PTO President - and Ironwood Area Schools alumnus - Jessica Vaughn's memories of the games from her time in high school.

Much as the name implies, donkey basketball involves two teams attempting to score baskets while riding donkeys. The players can get off the donkeys, however any passes or shots must be attempted while on the animal.

The fundraiser involved four teams, two of which were from the Ironwood student body as well as a faculty team and a team filled with the parents from the Polar Bear Hockey Club as well as Ironwood alumni, playing three games to determine a donkey basketball championship.

Unlike a normal basketball game, donkey basketball also required a "clean-up crew" made up mostly of Ironwood administrators.

Ironwood Areas School Board Trustee John Lorenson, who also was part of the clean-up crew, said at the end of the first game, that the crew was having a pretty slow night, although they were quite busy prior to tip-off.

"Pre-game was very busy, but the first game was real slow," said Lorenson.

"We really honed our technique pregame," fellow crew member and elementary Principal Nicholas Steinmetz jokingly added.

During the first game, neither team had much success staying on their donkeys, although the teachers were able to score several baskets for the win.

Fifth grade teacher Doug Foley, who had never ridden a donkey before, joked about the experience after the game.

"It was kind of scary but not near as bad as teaching fifth grade," Foley said. "That was fun, it was a good time."

Foley's class also performed a juggling routine during halftime.

Second grade teacher Tony Blunt, who scored a basket in the first game, said his strategy was "to close his eyes and pray," adding that the donkey responded by taking him to a wide open lay-up.

Blunt credited the donkeys for the victory.

"This is all on the donkeys, I give them 100 percent of the credit for either being stubborn or cooperating," Blunt joked.

PTO Vice President Caroline Delich was pleased with the turnout for the event.

"I think its going fantastic," Delich said. "We thought it would be fun to bring it back and it seems like there are a lot of people enjoying it."

The last donkey basketball game at the school was in 1996 according to Delich.