I’ve been spending a great deal of time at my beloved alma mater of late. Yes, I find myself taking a stroll down memory lane every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning. A lot has changed in the past twenty years, but I still get goose bumps whenever I head to the Taj Mahal. It’s grand.

We sometimes wave to Coach Crews and his Cherry and Whites of the gridiron. And while the band is outside marching, occasionally there’s a tennis match or even a cross-country meet holding up traffic. It’s a busy place, and there’s always something going on. Williamsport Area High School is truly special, and I am proud to be an alumnus.

I say we because it’s usually just my eight-year-old son and me. He and several of his mates have been coming up to the Port for the past five weeks. They are participating in the Little Millionaires — an introductory youth basketball program put on by the Williamsport Area coaches and players.

Now Jensen has been playing organized hoops for three years, but nothing can compete with this venue. Sorry Upward or Mr. John Bower — you simply don’t hold a candle. I might be biased, but we like to call this celebrated place the Magic Dome.

I can’t possibly tell you the number of times I stepped foot on this floor. Nor can I describe those euphoric feelings when I walk through the door. You see, this court and I go back a long ways. I practically lived in this historic gym.

What’s Wrong Dad? Why are you Crying?

So I started as a fan and eventually became a player who occasionally got to “participate” in practice. OK. I could totally fib and insert a few bogus stat lines, but I was the ninth man on an eight-man rotation. I did score 12 points in a game in just three minutes of PT, but for the most part, I had the best seat in the Dome for my entire scholastic career. Truth be told, Coach White only kept me around because he knew I’d help boost the overall GPA and had access to a car. You can’t make it up.

I then became a coach when my playing days came to an end. Oh, what an honor it was to lead my Montoursville Warriors to victory over the mighty Millionaires back in ‘08. I retired from coaching and began calling games for WRAK Sports and PASportsLive. It was a lot of fun while it lasted, as I enjoyed broadcasting my beloved alma mater.

But Where’s Your Picture Mr. Spencer?

But now it’s a totally different feel as I am simply a proud parent watching Jensen and his friends run up and down the court. I must say, it’s a pretty neat being a spectator in this capacity. I don’t say much from the stands and I normally just sit there with a humble grin.

Is that a Spencer on the Court in the First Quarter?

Special thanks to Coach Allen Taylor and his entire squad for a great five-week campaign. Jensen had an absolute ball. You helped him and many others with the fundamentals and a better understanding of the game. Basketball is now Jensen’s favorite, and I owe you a big thanks. We wish you the best of luck in your upcoming season, and we look forward to watching you from the stands of the Magic Dome. Cheers.