It was more than just basketball for RKYHS at the Auburn Tournament last week at Auburn University in Alabama. The Division I Auburn Men’s Basketball team hosted the RKYHS boys and girls varsity basketball teams who joined six other Jewish high school teams from across the country, for a few days of basketball, volunteering, Israel advocacy and experiencing the southern Jewish community in Auburn.

Organized by Athletes for Israel, the students were warmly welcomed by coach Bruce Pearl, an outspoken supporter of Israel, and the Auburn team. Over the course of the few day tournament, students heard from Coach Pearl, explored the Auburn arena, and watched the Division I and currently first place team practice. The RKYHS Boys Varsity Basketball team went undefeated in the tournament and fell short of a win in a nailbiter championship game. The RKYHS Girls Varsity Basketball team showed determination, effort and skill throughout their tournament games. In addition to playing their tournament games, the students took part in the AFI Eddie Jacobson All-Star Fellowship, which aims to empower Jewish teen athletes to be informed, motivated and influential ambassadors for Israel, and spent a morning volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore location. Another highlight of the trip was learning all of pirkei avot to make a siyum with Coach Pearl, leilui nishmat his mother Barbara Pearl, for her yahrtzeit. The trip culminated as the students cheered on the Auburn Tigers basketball team who they got to know over the few days, as they faced and defeated Oklahoma.