Australia visits MCH Crockett Youth Services

On Monday, January 3, the Newington College basketball team from outside of Sydney, Australia, visited Crockett Youth Services in Crockett, Texas – an after-school program through Methodist Children’s Home in partnership with First United Methodist Church of Crockett. The Australian basketball team is on a tour of Texas, playing basketball teams throughout the state.

Crockett hosted a series of games between the Australian team and a basketball team from Christian Life Center Academy (CLCA) of Humble, Texas. Through a friendship between James Berry, Crockett Program Coordinator, and Coach Carlos Wilson, basketball coach at CLCA, youth from both programs were able to compete against each other. Berry and Wilson agreed to host the game in Crockett because it would be an opportunity for our Crockett youth to meet and compete against an international team.

“Most of our youth have low self-esteem when they first come to our program,” Berry said. “It’s after competing against teams from larger cities and traveling that they begin to gain confidence in themselves and their abilities as athletes.”

Berry views the Crockett Youth Services program as a success because of the positive changes in attitude it promotes in the youth involved.

“One of our kids, Anthony, is a very talented basketball player,” Berry said. “When he first started the program, he was very shy. After our first trip to Houston, he realized his talents in basketball were comparable to youth on larger-city teams. That trip enabled Anthony to open up more and start becoming a better basketball player.”

Our youth had the chance to participate in dunking and shooting contests with the other players Monday evening. Not only did they have the opportunity to compete with out-of-town teams, but they were able to show their skills to talent scouts from well-known Texas universities who attended the games Monday.

Prior to the first game, Dr. Wayne Mask, mayor of Crockett, expressed his appreciation to the players and coaches for bringing this event to Crockett. In addition, Lindy Dehm, MCH Public Relations Officer, spoke on behalf of the Home and had an opportunity to share about our mission and the youth we serve to the teams.

Below are a few photos from the event.

James Berry, Crockett Program Coordinator, speaking to the Humble, Texas, and Australian teams before the games.

Coach Carlos Wilson from CLCA, Mayor Wayne Mask, and Coach Rex Nottage from Newington College in Australia.

The Australian basketball team after practice.

A youth from the Home's Crockett Youth Services watching the teams' practices before the games.