Lebanon girls basketball team adopts unusual fundraisers

Players say the odd jobs aren’t too difficult and help them form team spirit and unity.

Local officer in critical condition following early morning crash
Breaking 2 min. ago
Kings Island ticket tax proposal tabled by Mason
6:47 a.m.
Governor pardons 68, commutes sentences for 10 others
11/23/09
Mason Comet Skippers to take part in Macy’s parade
11/23/09
Sheriff, BOE defend budgets
11/23/09
> More headlines

By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer 3:22 PM Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Lebanon High School girls basketball team is adept at taking the ball to the hoop, but right now the team is focusing on taking trash to the receptacle in order to raise money.

Lebanon High School girls basketball coach Rob Hodges has been leading his team in several unique fundraisers as they gear up for the upcoming season, including cleaning Lebanon’s football stadium after home games and a November rake-a-thon, where the players will rake neighbor’s leaves for cash.

”It can be a little bit gross, especially if it rained the night before,” said C.C. Latham, 16, a junior center froward for the basketball team. “You get water pooling in the nacho containers and stuff.”

Regardless of the early mornings and soggy trash, players said the job isn’t too difficult and helps them form team spirit.

“We have a lot of fun definitely,” said Rachel DeBord, 17, a junior point guard. “We use it to bring the team together and get to know each other.”

DeBord said she wasn’t bothered by having to get up at 8 a.m. to clean the stadium because she was used to early mornings for school.

On Nov. 14, the team will embark on its second annual rake-a-thon. Anyone in the Lebanon area can schedule to have members of the team come and rake his or her yard in exchange for a donation to the team. The money is used to offset the cost of gear and travel as well as to spruce up the locker room.

“The rake-a-thon lets us get out into the community, offer a service and build some team spirit and unity,” Hodges said.

Maria Rotello, 16, a junior guard said she was very excited about the rake-a-thon.

“Last year was so much fun,” Rotello said. “The best part is jumping in the piles of the leaves at the end.”

Residents interested in having their yards raked can contact Hodges at (513) 934-5193. Money raised will be used to the purchase equipment, improve the girls’ locker room and to cover some travel costs.

The girls officially start practice Friday, Oct. 30. Their first game is Nov. 28 against long-time rival Kings.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.

Share this article