By Alyssa Scala

“Playoffs here we come” says Alden Jay Gibbs Jr. Who has been a big contributor to the success of the COS men’s basketball team, who is getting ready for their game tonight.
Alden is from Brooklyn, NY, “which is just like a big city where you can walk pretty much everywhere and there is always something to do,” said Alden
Asked how he heard about the tiny town of Weed and COS Alden said, “My high school principle knows Billy Offill, and told me that I should go play there since I wasn’t doin nothin back at home. So here I am,” said Alden. “So here I am, and I’m having fun.”
Alden’s making the adjustment from the big city to rural life, but it hasn’t been easy.
“Its ok I guess, I just play ball and video games, and and hang out with the guys. It’s a lot smaller than home so the part where there isn’t a lot of things to do all the time was very difficult to adjust to,” said Alden
On the court, Alden prefers playing defense to offense, but enjoys going vertical.
“Defense is where it’s at, though offense is when I can dunk it,” said Alden.
Alden wants to play some higher level college ball.

He says, “I will go wherever gives me a full ride, I just wanna play ball. I am gonna miss all the guys from my two years at COS and met a lot of cool people which maybe I can see in the future.”
Alden’s parting words are, “hope to see you at the game at 7:00”

Siskiyou Youth contributor Alyssa Scala is a graduate of Yreka High School. She currently attends COS, where she is working towards a law degree.

By Alyssa Scala

When you come to watch the College of the Siskiyous Lady Eagles basketball team play you will see a 6′6” player running up and down the court. Who might this be? It’s Leah Swain from Melbourne, Australia.

Now, it may seem strange that someone from Australia is playing at COS. How did she find COS you might ask?“My family knows a man named Steve from Australia who used to play for Tom Powers and suggested that I should go play college basketball–that it would be a great experience for me just as it was for him. So here I am,” said Leah.When asked about Australia she says it’s a little different than what everyone seems to think.

“It isn’t what everyone thinks. There are not kangaroos hopping around everywhere, and most people don’t live by the beach or surf all day. It’s just like a city here. People go to work and maybe on their spare time they will go catch a wave or two,” said Leah. “Though don’t get me wrong there are many amazing beaches and the people there are very relaxed.” (more…)