I-90 rivals take the court for annual donkey basketball game

No one wanted to make an “ass” out of themselves. Except for the stars of the show who are used to such descriptions.

Say what?

While they most likely prefer to go by the more common name “donkey” the combination of trusty if not slow steed and willing if not able riders made for a “basketball” game for the ages between Mineral County’s I-90 rivals Thursday night in St. Regis.

The occasion was the annual Donkey Basketball fundraiser, during which teams of students and staff from Superior and St. Regis high schools battled it out on the basketball court.

And despite some random “waste balls” that temporarily left the shiny hardwood surface a bit slippery if not stinky, a good time was had by all.

The game was part of a fundraiser to benefit the St. Regis athletic department as schools big and small scramble to find innovative and entertaining ways to bolster their ability to help pay for constantly rising costs related to sports and other extra-curricular endeavors.

The donkeys, who are “employed” by Donkey Sports, Inc. of Entiat, Washington, presented a unique way to play the game of basketball. True to donkey reputation, some of the four-legged players had to be “coaxed” by two-legged players tugging on their reins to get them to cooperate.

With the donkeys wearing rubber “sneakers” to protect the hardwood flooring of the gym, and riders in mandatory helmets often clinging to the reins just to stay in the saddle, this was not your average contest.

Four teams, consisting of students and staff from both schools, played 10-minute games including a brief halftime after five minutes of play to allow for an infusion of new riders.

For many of the participants riding a donkey was a first time thing, as evident by the contest’s test of wills between players and animals. But by the end of the evening, many of the riders had figured it out and engage in “break-away” runs down the floor to put up a shot from donkey-back.

Rules called for the riders to hold onto the rubber basketball while they were atop the donkeys. Balls that got away from the players could be chased by dismounted players as long as they held onto the reins while out of saddle.

Other rules were discussed before the games began by the “refs” who were members of the company that provided the main stars.

“Everyone has to wear a black or white helmet,” admonished one of the refs in pre-game instructions. “And don’t sit too far back on the donkey, they don’t like that!”

A full house of fans spent the next hour laughing and urging on their players. At half-time of the final 10-minute session and for a time after the event, fans were allowed onto the court with the donkeys receiving some pats of appreciation for their role.

St. Regis basketball coach Jesse Allan, who scored several legitimate baskets and even tried to sit on his knees while riding in an attempt to “dunk” under the basket said the event is a fun and good way to help support the costs associated with after school sports and other activities.

There is, he said, just one caveat.

“I know I will be sweeping donkey hair off this court for several days to come,” he said. “But it is all worth it and a lot of fun for participants and fans."