Playing a Westside athletic team is more than just playing for the school. It is also playing for the community around us and representing the district. Over the past couple years, the varsity boys basketball team, among others, has visited both elementary schools and preschools around the Westside area as a way to give back to the community.

This past week several members of the team, including sophomore center Anthony Bratton, senior forward Tom Ashford, senior forward Forrest McQueen and senior guard Matt Waldron visited to Sunset Hills Preschool to read and play basketball with the kids, as well.

“We went to the school and introduced ourselves and gave them our autographs,” Bratton said. “We ate little snacks with them and played some basketball.”

The basketball players even found out some harsh realities about their tough critics in the preschool when shooting hoops with them.

“We were dunking a lot, but Matt Waldron didn’t really do anything,” Bratton said. “He missed a shot and all the kids booed.”

Though the visit lasted only two hours, for the players and kids the impact was greater than the amount of time.

“When we walked in there they were really happy to see us,” Bratton said. “That made us feel good, so we were glad to be there too.”

Luckily for the athletes, Bratton and the other athletes were met with important things in return as well, that they will be able to carry with them after their basketball playing days are over.

“It [made] me feel like an actual NBA player,” Bratton said. “It [made] me feel good to know there is someone down there that looks up to you and wants to be like you.”