Schools mount up for donkey basketball

The Lakeside-Evans rivalry takes a new twist Tuesday, as students and faculty members from the two high schools compete for a unique prize - The Donkey Cup.

That's right - Donkey Basketball is returning to Columbia County. Games pitting students from Evans and Lakeside, and a contest featuring Evans vs. Lakeside faculty, will be held at the Evans High School gymnasium.

Players mount up for action at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5. Pictures have been handed out at local elementary schools, and children who color their picture and bring it to the game are admitted free.

Each game will equal one quarter of play. The rules resemble regular basketball, but with some alterations: in order to score, a player must be seated on his beast, and that is easier said than done.

"They've shanghaied me into it. I told them I'd play if they couldn't find anybody else," said Evans athletic director Lee Chomskis, who participated in Donkey Basketball last year at Evans.

A large crowd was on hand to see the shenanigans last year. While some of the donkeys were readily ridden, others were decidedly obstinate. The ornery critters shed riders with bucks and ducks, and that's part of the fun.

"It was a really good evening," Chomskis said. "I think we made a pretty good bit of money for the booster club last year."

Proceeds from this week's Donkey Basketball game will benefit the Lakeside and Evans high school athletic booster clubs.

The donkeys are supplied by a Florida-based company which specifically trains the Equus asinus to perform indoors. In order to protect the court from damage, the animals wear rubber shoes, and maintenance crews armed with scoopers will be on hand to take care of business.