newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — Before the pros take the court in the American Basketball Association’s Dare to Dream Tournament this weekend, Alaska middle schools will square off in a tournament of their own.

Ten Fairbanks club teams will be a part of the 23-team field that includes teams from Palmer, Wasilla, Anchorage, Barrow, Fort Yukon and Point Hope.

The Challenge Life-sponsored tournament is not affiliated with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.

The games will take place each day before the ABA tourney, hosted by the Alaska Dream of Anchorage, begins its games Friday through Sunday.

Middle school play at the Carlson Center begins at 11 a.m. Friday until 4 p.m. It continues Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Games will start at the same time at the Student Recreation Center beginning Friday and the Patty Center beginning Saturday on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. The action at the SRC and Patty Center will continue after the Carlson Center games are finished.

The championships are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Carlson Center. The middle school tournament is free to attend.

The Dare to Dream tournament begins at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, featuring the Dream, the Las Vegas Aces, the Maywood (Calif.) Buzz and the San Francisco Rumble.

Tickets for the ABA tournament are available at all Fred Meyer stores, the Carlson Center box office, TicketMaster outlets and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Student clinic

The Dream will host a free clinic for elementary and secondary school students today at the Carlson Center.

A clinic for third- through eighth-graders will be from 6-7 p.m. A clinic for high school students will be from 7-8 p.m.

The event is open to the public — any student can join the clinic, and spectators are welcome.

Skijoring

The Alaska Skijoring and Pulk Association’s second fun race will be Sunday at the North Star Golf Course.

There will be 2-mile and 4-mile courses for one-, two- and three-dog classes, 6-mile and 8-mile courses for a class of up to three dogs and a three-quarter-mile race for one-dog teams.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., bib pick-up is at 11 a.m. and the race begins at 11:30 a.m.

If the temperature is colder than 20 below, the race will be canceled.

Pre-registration is $5 for ASPA members and $10 for non-members. Pre-registering is suggested for anyone who wants to participate in more than one class.

Volunteers are needed for timing and dog handling. To pre-register, volunteer or find out more, call Pat DeRuyter at 479-7853 or e-mail patd@acsalaska.net.

The golf course is just north of Curry’s Corner on the Old Steese Highway.

Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.