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Red-White River Jam provides new experience

Junior Jason Lesch (22) tries to cut into the box in a game this season. Lesch is second on the team in points (11) and goals (4).
Junior Jason Lesch (22) tries to cut into the box in a game this season. Lesch is second on the team in points (11) and goals (4).

Change is not the easiest thing for people to accept, especially when it deals with Bradley basketball and a long-standing event.

That event was the Red-White scrimmage, which gave fans a chance to watch the men’s and women’s teams participate in separate scrimmage.

This year, the Red-White scrimmage was transformed into a more fan-friendly event, the Red-White River Jam, held on the RiverFront Oct. 17.

A makeshift basketball court was made on a space next to the Illinois River and a three-point contest, hot shot competition and a dunk competition headlined the event.

Both men’s basketball Head Coach Geno Ford and women’s baketball head coach Michael Brooks addressed the crowd, just before a performance by the band 90s Daughter finished off the night.

Bradley Athletic Director Michael Cross said the new event was everything he and his staff wanted it to be.

“We wanted to come out with a different feel and to the community,” Cross said. “This was a chance for players to be around the community, and I thought this event accomplished all the goals of that.”

Ford said the event was a success and a great way for his players to bond and interact with the Peoria community. Ford also noted that the season is quickly approaching.

“This is all great fanfare and whatnot, don’t get me wrong,” Ford said. “But, in the end, we are two weeks from playing someone else for the first time and four weeks from the [season] opener, so [the season is] here.”

Red Sea President Anthony Sperando said the event was a lot of fun for Red Sea members, but student attendance overall was low.

“I think it was a cool experience, especially for the students,” Sperando, a junior sports communication major, said. “I think the student turnout could have been better, just like every other event on Bradley’s campus.”

The men’s 2014-2015 season kicks off at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 with an exhibition game versus Augustana at Carver Arena. The women’s team opens its season with an exhibition game 7 p.m. the next day against Eureka at Renaissance Coliseum.

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