MCA's Russian Mission

Eight McKinney Christian Academy basketball players, their coach and a former MCA All-State performer shared their love and knowledge of the game with a junior high class in the village of Poretskoe outside of Vladimir, Russia. MCA players Savannah Brock, Emily Crombar, Andrew LeBlanc, Thomas LeBlanc, Michael Nichols, Winston Ray, Marshal Woodruff, Scotty Zook, coach Jeff Anderson and MCA alumna Emmie Zook stopped at the Russian village as part of a mission trip in March. The clinic took place in a tiny room with a non-regulation basketball court and backboard mounted to a brick wall. "Our group gave some much needed equipment such as basketballs and soccer balls to the school," Anderson said. "The Russian basketball coach wants us to come back next year for another clinic." Basketball helped the MCA team communicate despite a language barrier. "We had an interpreter to help us, but mostly we pointed and showed them different skills and drills," Scotty Zook said. "Playing really brought us together. The guys kept asking us for one more game." American basketball wasn't the only thing the MCA team found in common with their Russian hosts. "They started asking us about American music and about our favorite bands. There was a lot of laughter," Crombar said.