When the Tanana Middle School girls basketball team walked into the gym for their last practice of the season on Wednesday they were greeted with the blue and gold of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Women’s Basketball team.

“I surprise them every year,” Tanana Coach Roberta Milles said. “They never know when it’s gonna happen, it gives them something to look forward to.”

Standing in a big circle in the center of the gym UAF players led the seventh and eighth graders in ball handling exercises to get warmed up. Giggles and smiles echoed among the rhythmic thudding of bouncing balls.

Lined up on the sidelines the middle schoolers watched as the college athletes demonstrated walking while dribbling two balls at once, then they tried it themselves, cheered on by teammates and UAF ballers

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