The Cerro Coso basketball program held its Meet the Coyotes event on Thursday night. The event was a chance for the local fans of basketball, the Coyotes, and everybody in the community to meet this year's Coyotes basketball players. The Meet the Coyotes event was held in the Cerro Coso Gym.

 

The event began with Head Coach Chris Dugan holding a small basketball clinic for all kids who attended. He along with the players worked with the kids on learning how to dribble the ball with both hands, how to shoot the ball, how to perform a pump fake, and more. The clinic lasted half an hour, which was a shortened version of his summer camp, and after the clinic ended the Coyotes took the court. They began warming up with a layup and dunk line and taking jump shots.

 

After the warm ups the team held a three point contest and a dunk contest for the audience to enjoy. They had three players compete in the three point and dunk contest with special guest judges. As the competitions where happening the kids who participated in the clinic where able to watch both competitions from the baseline. After the competitions where done, Dugan introduced each member to the group of fans who came out and sat in the stands. From there they opened the gym to allow the kids to shot with the players and let the fans meet the players and speak with Dugan. Afterwards Dugan spoke about holding the event.

 

"The biggest thing is just letting people know that we are on top of the hill. We have done camps and had good numbers of 50 to 60 kids come, and its free. We always like to interact with the community," he said. "I remember when I was a kid, I remember doing these things. These guys like giving back to the kids when they come. Just having a connection with them is always fun."

 

Dugan continued that these types of events for him and his players are all about interacting with the community. He knows that community college athletics have plenty to offer fans especially in bigger cities such as Los Angeles, but being in a smaller community they know they are the only source of community college events. Knowing that Dugan and his players want people to go out to Cerro Coso Gym and see and say that it is a nice gym with a competitive team worth watching. Dugan wants to get more people to come out to home games, which would help with attendance and most importantly it will help his players who enjoy playing in front of a lively crowd. Plus for the Coyotes coach its also a great way to give back to the fans and community.

 

The Meet the Coyotes event had a nice group of fans show up and Dugan was pleased with the turnout.

 

"Its always exciting. You never know how many people are going to show up because its obviously its Thursday night. There's baseball and all this other youth sports," he said. "One year we tried doing it on a Saturday and it ended up being opening weekend. Its just trying to make it the best day possible, make sure its not on a flex Friday so people are in town. But I enjoy doing this, and my guys made fun of me cause I'm so nice. I'm high fiving kids and they are like who are you. But for me its fun, you want the kids to have fun. A lot of times these kids are shy, they have never played basketball, its OK come out have fun and interact with other kids. I think that is the best thing with youth sports is kids learn to communicate and deal with other kids. Its just a cool opportunity for them."

 

The Coyotes open their season with a three game homestand beginning with the opener on Friday, November 11th when San Diego Mesa visits at 5 p.m. They then host Santa Barbara Community College in a back to back on Saturday, November 12th at 2 p.m. and close the homestand hosting Fullerton College on Monday, November 14th at 5 p.m.

 

The event was a chance to let the fans know about the upcoming games and create some excitement for the upcoming season.

 

"I thinks its good. Just getting them up here, letting them know that we do have a team and we have team that has been extremely competitive," he said. "We have guys that can really play and we have guys that enjoy to play."