Basketball team takes honors in Vegas

Salvation Training Ground ended their fourth season with a third place basketball team in the West Coast Nationals tournament, held in Las Vegas.

Head Coach Fabian Jimenez said that he is very proud of the girls for representing Shafter in such a great way. The team competed against top teams from Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada, as well as some of California's best.

Shafter teams had competed in the Regionals in Anaheim, moving on to the Jam On It West Coast Nationals, where the girls 12U team took third.

Jimenez and his staff of volunteers began the program to help local the kids get proper training, as well as helping them off the court. The faith-based program teaches responsibility and teamwork, as well as self-confidence.

The program has seven basketball teams, with different age groups, and two volleyball teams. "We had a starter season this past year for volleyball, testing to see if we could fill a need in the community, and it was a big success," said Jimenez.

Similar to the early days of the STG in basketball, the volleyball program began with a trial year, focusing on local tournaments. "There was major growth in the athletes, and we hope to build on it and move them in the same direction as the basketball program."

The basketball program includes boys and girls teams in 10U, 12U, and 14U divisions, as well as a high-school-age boys team.

Jimenez is hoping that the program will keep growing and is actively working with the local coaches from the junior high and high school to create a positive channel in which the boys and girls can keep working and improving all the way through high school cohesively.

Jimenez reflected on the program's mission and the reason that it was born in the first place. "Our goal is to produce elite athletes and good kids who want to excel in whatever they pursue in life."