Red Lake Nation College Hosts First Basketball Game

As the Red Lake Nation College gets ready to break ground on their new campus this spring, they are also getting ready to play their first basketball game on Saturday, February 23, 2013, at 8pm at the Red Lake Nation College.

The Red Lake Nation College Migizi (Eagles) will play the Turtle Mountain Mighty Mikinocks (Turtles) at the college in an exhibition game. The new men’s basketball head coach is local Red Lake basketball legend, Gerald Kingbird. Kingbird is a graduate of Bemidji State University and currently works at the Red Lake Casino.

The exhibition game is billed as a fundraising event for the new Red Lake Nation College campus with a donation of $5 per person suggested. It is expected to be a highly entertaining evening with a three point shooting contest from the best six players from each team, hundred dollar free throw chances for five lucky fans, and free t-shirts for random fans. The game will be announced by Tito Ybarra, a Red Lake comedian and the DJ will be Mike Donnell. A Red Lake "Legends" game (former Red Lake players who are 35+) will be played prior to the featured game.

The new Red Lake Nation College team will debut as a Club Team with a limited schedule in the 2013/2014 school year and start with league play in the 2014/2015 school year. “We think organized sports can teach students positive lessons about life, teamwork, perseverance and leadership,” said Dan King, Red Lake Nation College President. “Plus, there are studies that show sports programs have a direct link to academic success. In a way, this is wellness through athletic and academic achievement."

King commented that he envisions the Red Lake Community getting behind and supporting the new Red Lake team. He hopes the new team will draw more male college enrollees as the College currently 65% female. King says plans are in the works for a women's team in the near future.

“Our community is very pleased to see the fast growth and development of our Tribal College and this new team is one more example of the excitement that is building with our college," says Red Lake Tribal Chairman, Floyd Jourdain, Jr. "This is another great way for our community to show our Red Lake Pride.” Jourdain, a former Red Lake HS shooting guard, will play in the legends game that starts just prior to the featured game at 7 p.m. and will also participate in the three point contest at halftime.