Tribal members excel in California tournament

By Ben Miller

For Puyallup Tribal News
bmiller@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: May 15, 2008

Four Puyallup tribal members, divided onto two Athletic Amateur Union (AAU) basketball teams, went to Redding, Calif., May 2-4 and came back with first and second place trophies to show for their efforts. The Anchors placed second, while Team JCU took the top spot at the Simpson University Hardwood Classic.

The Anchors feature tribal members and Chief Leschi students Nathan Bisson, Raulth Amed and Joseph Rideout, while Brian Castillo played for Team JCU. Combined the two teams went 12-2 at the event.

“All of them played well,” said coach Derrick Pringle. He also said that all four of them averaged between 10 and 12 points per game throughout the tournament.

This is the first season that the four tribal members have competed in the AAU program run by Derrick Pringle. Eric Smith, a paraeducator at Chief Leschi, approached Derrick Pringle about the four of them joining the team so that they would have more experience before they started to play high school basketball.

“They wanted to get some experiences so that when they got to high school they wouldn’t be intimidated or scared,” Derrick Pringle said.

The teams are made up of seventh and eighth graders, with Nathan Bisson, Raulth Amed and Brian Castillo currently in eighth and Joseph Rideout in seventh. “Our kids received them well and made them feel welcome,” Derrick Pringle said. “These kids never played with kids outside of Chief Leschi before, and this gives them a chance to play with kids outside of Chief Leschi.”

Derrick Pringle also said that he has seen some changes in the four players since they started playing on the team. “Since they have been in the program, they have matured a lot,” he said. “They are understanding the game, and understanding teamwork.”

Along with teaching the game of basketball, Derrick Pringle puts an emphasis on academics as well. He requires that all players on his team sport a grade-point average of at least a 2.0 but Nathan Bisson, Raulth Amed, Joseph Rideout and Brian Castillo all have at least a 3.0.

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