Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles about local teams playing in this weekend’s Pratt MAYB tournament. Additional stories will appear in the Tribune throughout the week.
Playing basketball is supposed to be fun, and that’s exactly what it was for the seven members of 2nd Chance, a summer basketball team comprised of players with ties to Pratt.
2nd Chance recently won the Kingman MAYB tournament with a 7-1 record over three days.
The team, comprised of Brady Batman, Chase Galle, Austin McClain, Luke Southard and Nathan Southard of Pratt, Brett Smith of Stringtown, Okla., and Stuart Sullivan of Red Oak, Okla., avenged their only loss in the championship game.
Playing in summer tournaments gave Luke Southard a “second chance” to team up with older brother Nathan and former PHS teammates Galle and Sullivan.
A serious head injury during football season robbed Luke of his junior season on the basketball court, but he will be back in uniform for the Greenbacks this winter.
“Luke has worked very hard to be able to get back onto the basketball court,” Maggie Southard said. “He loves the game and it was at times sad to watch his brother and teammates out there on the new PHS basketball court playing without him. Playing in an MAYB tournament this summer was a wonderful opportunity to be out there playing alongside his brother.”
The tournament was also a reunion of sorts for Sullivan, who played at PHS until moving to Red Oak last summer. He had played basektball with the Southards since they were members of the Pratt Blazers back in elementary school.
Both Galle and Nathan Southard will attend Kansas State University this fall, with Southard competing on the Wildcats’ track team.
Batman, McClain and Luke Southard will all be part of the Pratt High team this winter. Batman and Southard will be seniors at PHS, while McClain is entering his sophomore year.
Tournament games will begin Friday evening, and the tournament will conclude Sunday afternoon.
Additonal information on the tournament, as well as a complete schedule, will appear in the Tribune later this week.
