Donkey basketball slated for Saturday night in Morehouse

MOREHOUSE, Mo. -- Preparations for a donkey basketball game featuring local players are underway.

Set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the gymnasium in Morehouse, the variation on the traditional sport will pit Sikeston High School teachers against Sikeston Junior High School teachers and high school band students against choir students. Also slated to play are Missouri Delta Medical Center hospital administrators versus the doctors.

"It's wholehearted family entertainment," said Kim Whitehead, assistant band director for Sikeston High School.

Whitehead came up with the idea to organize the event in Sikeston.

"The high school I went to -- Eureka High School -- used to do a donkey game for fun, and I used to watch my teachers play and it was fun," Whitehead said. "We were trying to look for something fun to do and unique, something someone else hasn't done in a while."

Just like the regular sport, there will be five players (sitting on donkeys) on the court. Each team is asked to have a minimum of six players.

"You have to be on your donkey if you're trying to shoot the ball, block and to pass," Whitehead said. " If you need to, you can jump off the donkey and lead him down the court."

Whitehead said each game will be about 30 minutes.

High school band members will offer concessions and conduct a bake sale and silent auction. Proceeds will benefit Sikeston High School band students, who will march May 3 in the Pegasus Parade during the Kentucky Derby Festival.

"Playing for a crowd of nearly 275,000 people is something these students have never done before, but will be a great experience for them," said Sikeston High School band director Darren Steelman.

The Pegasus Parade is the oldest Kentucky Derby Festival event, typically held the Thursday before the Kentucky Derby. The parade features colorful floats, marching bands, giant inflatable cartoon characters, equestrians and celebrities.

The expense -- $289 per student -- is solely on the students.

"For some of them, it's not a big deal (to pay $289), but for some of the students, it could just as well be $1 million," Steelman said. " ... We told the kids up front: we don't want money to be an issue of whether or not you go. We want to make sure to get the money they need to go."

Steelman said he also welcomed any organizations willing to help the band students to contact him.

All of the 140 high school band students were given the option to attend, Whitehead said.

"It's an exciting opportunity just to be able to do something special like that and we've been wanting to take a special trip every couple of years," Whitehead said. "The kids work so hard and they deserve to have new experiences they normally wouldn't be able to do."

Tickets are $6 in advance from participating band members or at Collins Music in downtown Sikeston. Tickets can also be purchased for $8 at the door. Children 4 and under are free. Free donkey rides will be offered at intermission to all children under 12 who are accompanied by a paying adult.

Pertinent address:

Morehouse, MO