FUN….that was the story at the Shenk Gym at Junction City High School Wednesday evening.

Teams comprised of community, law enforcement, Coach’s Grill and Bar representatives and the hosts JC Naz enjoyed a donkey basketball tournament to help raise money for the Open Door, Food Pantry of Geary County and Breaking Bread JC.. Several hundred people attended the event.

JC Naz pastor Mark Hatcher said it was the first time to try an event like this. “We just tried to do something out of the box. We want to bless our community, we just thought this would be a fun way to bring some blessing to a lot of people.” Hatcher wants to do this again.

A company from Ohio, Buckeye Donkey Basketball, provided the mini-donkeys for the event. JCHS teacher and JC Naz Leadership Board member Tyrick Artley said the church members thought it would be fun to look at animals out on the court. “When people fall off donkeys and tumble over it’s just a really fun and a really good time.” Shots at the basket could only be taken when the shooter sat on their donkey, and players could only go get the loose basketballs if they pulled their donkey with them. Obviously the donkeys were not always cooperative, leading to some funny moments.

The law enforcement team defeated the community team in the semifinals and then got an overtime basket from JCPD Officer Nick Blake to win the championship game 4-2 over the JC Naz Squad.