Bigger than Basketball: MLK Games Foster Community, Connection

The local basketball community united during MLK events, proving we can come together, despite our differences, for the good of all.

“Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

BURIEN, Wash. – When planning the inaugural Catholic Classic, Alvin Snow aimed to provide more than just basketball games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Kennedy Catholic coach wanted to create an educational experience that would leave a lasting impact on the players.

Rather than simply reciting a few of Dr. King’s most memorable quotes, Snow partnered with Anthony Washington Sr. to craft a meaningful opportunity for the four participating schools – Kennedy Catholic, O’Dea, Eastside Catholic, and Bellarmine Prep – to connect Dr. King’s teachings to their lives as athletes and future leaders.

He hoped every player would gain a new perspective on Dr. King – one they could carry with them for years to come.

“To me, this is special, and I want to continue to do things like this that bring us all together,” said Snow, in his first year coaching the Lancers (more on that later this week). “That feels good to me.”

Instead of focusing solely on the “I Have a Dream” speech, Washington delved deeper, finding lessons from Dr. King’s teachings that tied directly to the players’ experiences. For one evening, school rivalries were set aside as the athletes worked together to discuss leadership, accountability, and the younger generation’s responsibility to uplift their communities.

“Aside from the game, what we did last night – credit to Alvin Snow for having Anthony Washington come in here and lead a whole presentation,” O’Dea coach Jason Kerr said. “We might battle each other on the court, but when it’s all over, we’re still one big community, and we’ve got to look out for each other. Last night was pretty special.”

For photo galleries from all three games, click the link.

The camaraderie carried over into Monday’s games at Kennedy’s gym. The Lancers edged Bellarmine Prep 54-51, while O’Dea defeated Eastside Catholic 58-50.

Meanwhile, several other teams competed in the seven-game MLK Day Classic at Seattle Pacific University.

“Our community – not only here at Prep but in the basketball world as a whole – is really coming together, and there’s so much love and respect,” said Seattle Prep girls’ basketball coach Talia Walton after her team’s 65-42 win over Kentwood. “That’s what it’s really about – coming together, understanding that we can compete, we can have our differences, we can wear different colors, but at the end of the day, we’re all here with the same mission: helping these kids, giving back to our community, and setting the tone.”

For Seattle Prep senior Nirvaan Misra, the day held special significance.

“It’s bigger than basketball,” Misra said after an 83-66 win over Arlington. “We just had an assembly at school about MLK and his legacy. As an Indian American, it’s different for me. I’m one of the only Indian Americans at Seattle Prep, so being part of a diverse culture shows that anyone can play basketball. I’m doing this for my culture and for MLK’s legacy. Playing on this day, at SPU, is an incredible feeling.”

In a nation that often feels increasingly divided, Monday’s games highlighted the power of community. The local basketball teams rallied together, united by a shared love for the game and a deeper purpose.

As Roosevelt’s Anthony Washington Jr. put it after the Roughriders’ win: “It means a lot.”

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