Our USA Basketball students have had an incredible weekend on tour!
Friday 5 December
The Salesian USA tour group played in our first two games of the Craig Reed invitational basketball tournament. The first game took some time to shake nerves and jet lag, however a strong second half led us to only lose by 5 points. Meanwhile, the second game included some bright spots, however the result was not quite what we wanted. We are hopeful for the result of our two games tomorrow. After our second game, we watched the Bonham Christmas parade, and we also visited Muddbones burgers, notorious for having the ‘Best Burgers in Texas’.
Saturday 6 December
The boys competed in their final two games of the Dodd City Tournament, finishing the tournament in exciting fashion.
The first game was against the home team, Dodd City, in what proved to be a thrilling contest. In a tense, back-and-forth match, the boys held their nerve to secure a dramatic two-point victory thanks to a buzzer-beating shot in the final second by Jackson Cerovac.
Their final game of the tournament saw the team produce a strong performance, recording a convincing 14-point win. Adding to the atmosphere was the support of a newly formed cheer squad — players from one of the opposing teams Bell — who got behind the boys and helped create a memorable finish to the tournament.
After the games, the group travelled back to Dallas, where they attended the NBA matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets. The highlight for many was an exclusive pre-game experience, watching the players warm up and train from close
Sunday 7 December
An early morning training session at the Dallas Mavericks’ home stadium, the American Airlines Centre which marked the start of another highlight day on tour. The group trained on the Dallas Mavericks’ practice court, with the session led by one of the club’s youth development coaches. The experience provided a unique insight into the standards and expectations of an NBA organisation.
Later in the day, the tour attended an NCAA double header featuring Texas Tech versus LSU, followed by TCU against the University of North Texas. Texas Tech delivered a dominant performance in the opening game, while the second contest went down to the final moments before TCU pulled away late.
Courtside seating for both games added to the experience, with the group also assisting as floor wipers during play. Meeting Australian player Max Mackinnon from LSU was a special highlight.
The day finished with dinner at Babe’s Chicken Dinner House, where an endless supply of chicken provided the perfect end to an action packed and unforgettable day on tour.
Monday 8 December
The Salesian group began the day by touring the home of the Dallas Cowboys football team at AT&T Stadium. The visit included access to the locker rooms of both the cheerleaders and the Cowboys, as well as the opportunity to step out onto the field.
The day continued with a drive to Baylor University, where the group explored the campus and visited the merchandise shop. After travelling on to Austin, they attended a college football game, watching the Texas University Longhorns take on the Southern University Jaguars. The Longhorns came away with a convincing win.
That evening, the group travelled to San Antonio and stopped at Raising Cane’s for a late dinner. It was an enjoyable way to finish a full and memorable first day.
Tuesday 9 December
After a well earned sleep in, the day began with a morning walk along the famous San Antonio Riverwalk.
The group then visited the Alamo, learning about the rich history of Texas and its fight for independence from Mexico. A guided tour of the historic church provided insight into the bravery of the defenders and the significance of the site in shaping Texas’ history.
Later in the day, Salesian travelled to Cuero High School to play against their varsity basketball team. The opening half proved challenging and started a little rocky, but strong resilience and determination helped work the team back into the contest. Despite a committed performance, the match finished in a narrow loss.
Following the game, the group shared dinner with the Cuero players, building new friendships and spending time together off the court. The evening concluded with a tour of the school, where impressive facilities and similarities between Cuero High School and Salesian were noted. It was a valuable cultural and sporting experience to finish the day.
Wednesday 10 December
A slower start set the tone before heading out to explore some of San Antonio’s key attractions. The first stop was the Natural Bridge Caverns, where a guided tour took the group deep underground. The experience provided insight into the limestone landscape, the formation of speleothems, and the natural processes that shaped the caverns over thousands of years.
From there, the tour continued with the first major shopping opportunity at Dick’s Sporting Goods. New shoes and clothing were popular purchases, and many took advantage of the outdoor hoops and football area afterwards. A late lunch and downtime back at the hotel allowed everyone to recharge before the evening.
That night, the group travelled to the western side of San Antonio to watch two back-to-back NISD girls’ high school basketball games. The opener was a nail-biter, with Holmes defeating Taft 44–43 thanks to a layup right on the buzzer. In the second match-up, 4-star Duke commit Bella Flemings put on a show for Brennan, dropping a smooth 20-piece and guiding her team to a strong win after leading by 12 at half-time.
The day concluded with a quick stop at Walmart before returning to the hotel, rounding out a great mix of sightseeing, shopping, and high quality basketball.
Thursday 11 December
Thursday was an action-packed day full of adventure and learning on the USA Basketball Tour. The morning began with the first game of the Smithville Tournament, taking on the Yoakum Titans. The boys competed strongly in a tight contest but unfortunately went down by just three points.
After lunch at Dairy Queen, the group enjoyed a well-earned feast before preparing for the second matchup of the day. In the afternoon game, the boys battled hard against La Vernia High School. Despite a strong effort, the team fell short in the fourth quarter and finished the game with a 15-point loss.
Following the games, the team returned to the hotel for a recovery session in the pool, led by Coach Mr Sellwood, which was a great way to unwind and recover after a long day on court. To finish the day, the boys explored the Round Rock Premium Outlets in Austin, Texas, picking up shoes, clothes, and souvenirs to take home to Australia. It was a full and rewarding day for the team, both on and off the court.
Friday 12 December
Friday began with an early 7.40 am departure to play Smithville on their home court. It was an outstanding all round performance, with great energy and teamwork leading to a 20-point win. The successful execution of the Sellwood Special nearly earned free dessert, adding to the excitement.
After the game, time was spent around the stadium talking with locals and taking photos with players from other schools and their cheerleaders. The schedule then moved quickly to the next matchup against FBCHA. This game proved far more physical, and despite a strong effort, the result was a 20-point loss.
The group returned to the main stadium to watch and support other teams and spent time speaking with Smithville students, gaining insight into school life in the United States. The day concluded with dinner at Terry’s Black’s Texas Barbecue, followed by a visit to an Italian ice cream shop, providing a fitting end to a big day.
Saturday 13 December
Saturday marked the final games of basketball in the United States, with matchups against Navarro and Elgin. Salesian opened the day with an excellent all round performance, securing a convincing 63 to 29 victory.
The second and final game was closely contested, with Salesian narrowly going down in a competitive matchup.
After the games, the tour continued to Baylor University to watch a high school American football game between the CE King Panthers and the Vandegrift Vipers. The Panthers claimed a hard fought 58 to 41 win, bringing another memorable day to a close.
Sunday 14 December
Following a late night at the football, the group enjoyed a well earned sleep in. Once rested, the day began with a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards, where the famous longhorn cattle were watched as they made their way through the streets.
Lunch at the Love Shack was followed by relaxed time exploring the area before travelling on to AT&T Stadium. After walking through the tailgate area, the group headed inside to watch the Dallas Cowboys take on the Minnesota Vikings. It was a tough and entertaining contest, with the Vikings coming away with a 34 to 26 victory.
Despite the cold weather, the day was filled with memorable experiences and standout moments, making it another enjoyable chapter of the USA basketball tour.
Monday 15 December
Today was an extremely early start, with alarms going off at 5:45am as we left Dallas to catch our 8:00am flight to Los Angeles. After landing, we hopped on a private bus and headed to Beverly Hills, where we went for a walk and explored the famous shops. From there, we caught a glimpse of the Hollywood sign from a distance.
We then travelled to Salesian High School (Don Bosco), where we were given a tour of their impressive sporting facilities. The boys were even lucky enough to have a run around on their football field, which was a great experience.
Later that evening, we checked into our new hotel and finished the day with some basketball on the outdoor court, followed by a swim and a turn on the waterslides. It was a long day, but an awesome way to experience Los Angeles.
Tuesday 16 December
Today was an exciting day as everyone was ready for a fun and enjoyable visit to Disneyland. The day was packed with activities, including rides, tours and sightseeing around the park. Some of the highlights were the Star Wars ride, which everyone enjoyed, and Guardians of the Galaxy, along with many other attractions.
We stopped for lunch at McDonald’s, where everyone refuelled before heading back out for more roller coasters and rides. Later in the afternoon, we watched the Christmas parade, which was a great experience for the whole group. To finish off the day, we watched the fireworks, which were an incredible way to end such a memorable day.
Tomorrow we begin our journey home, bringing an unforgettable tour to a close. While we are excited to see our families again, we will be leaving with incredible memories, new experiences and lessons that will stay with us well beyond this trip.
