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-three years, but I still get goosebumps whenever I head to the Taj Mahal. It’s grand.

We sometimes wave to Williamsport footballers on the gridiron. And while the band is outside marching, occasionally there’s a tennis match or even a cross-country meet holding up traffic. There are swimming and gymnastics too. It’s a busy place, and there’s always something to do. Williamsport Area High School is the bomb, and I am very proud to be an alum.

I say we because it’s usually my nine-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 several years, but nothing can compete with this venue. Sorry, Upward or Mr. John Bower — you 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’ve stepped foot on this floor. Nor can I describe those euphoric feelings when I walk through the door. It still looks and smells the same. You see this court, and I go a long way. I practically lived in this historic gym back in the day.

I started as a fan and eventually became someone who occasionally got to “participate” in practice. Okay. I could totally fib and insert a few bogus stat lines, but unfortunately, I was the ninth man on an eight-man rotation. We went on to the state final in ‘95, and I was along for the ride. 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 only kept me around because he knew I’d help boost the overall GPA, and had access to a car. I was a valuable member of the program. 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. That night still ranks as the best moment in my sports memories. I retired from coaching and began calling games for WRAK Sports and PASPORTSLIVE. It was a lot of fun while it lasted, and I always enjoyed broadcasting my beloved alma mater. Luxurious press box? Not.

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. Been there. Done that.

HEY 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. Kudos to Ethan Lee, B Lusk and Coach Pletz for helping him and many others with the fundamentals. 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. Go Port. Cheers.