The players and coaches from Mount de Chantal, West Va. traveled to Sunset View Home in the early morning hours on Sunday to help serve the residents breakfast.

That afternoon, the team from Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame made the trek to Scenic View Nursing Home to visit the residents in the "Bridges" program.

The trips, set up by event director Tom Jenkins, might have been a thrill for the residents, but the girls had an equal amount of fun serving the residents breakfast and talking one-on-one with a number of residents.

Castle Nursing home was very generous in their support of the schools, and we felt it would be appropriate to connect them to the event somehow," said Jenkins.

"I think the trip there really helped the girls realize how fortunate they are to be playing basketball at this level, and how they can't afford to take anything for granted."

Mount de Chantal coach John Rowan said that his goal in participating in these kind of events is to simply give back to others in the community, and added that it helps his kids understand a little more about the blessings of life, and how to share themselves and give back to others in unique and special ways.

What may have been one of the most touching moments in the day was the way the girls from Mount Notre Dame took to the residents, and it didn't take long for them to feel right at home and strike up conversations with a number of residents, including Hiland graduate and basketball standout Kyle Hostetler, who is recovering from an automobile accident in the "Bridges" group.

From the laughing conversations, to the ever-present and quite infectious grin on the face of Mount Notre Dame forward Michelle Jones, the joy being shared at the home was obvious.

"This has made the trip more meaningful to each one of us," said Mount Notre Dame star Mel Thomas.  "It's a great experience, and we love doing things together as a team."

"We try hard to stress faith and family," said head coach Scott Rogers.  "People often times talk about teams being a family, but it really is true here.  The kids work hard, and enjoy and respect each other a great deal.  They truly enjoy being around one another."

Exactly how much the trip to Scenic View meant to the girls came out later in the day, when following their convincing win over perennial state power Regina, dedicated their victory to Hostetler.

"That was all the kids doing," said Jenkins.  "(Coach Rogers) didn't tell them to do that; it was something they wanted to do on their own."

For those not familiar with the "Bridges" program at Scenic View, it is a program which serves to "bridge" the gap between the nursing home and an independent lifestyle of living.

"It's a pretty new concept that is being used for all of the traumatic brain injury residents," said Joann Miletto, Scenic View Care Coordinator.  "It really is a neat program.  It offers the residents a chance at a little more freedom, and it has been well-received.  It seems to be working quite well.

"We're just thrilled to have the girls here.  The residents were really excited when they found out they were coming.  And when the guys found out all these beautiful young women were going to show up, they were really excited," added Miletto with a chuckle.

For one Sunday morning, two very good basketball teams at a highly touted national event took a moment to put basketball aside and share of themselves selflessly, which is without doubt one of the greatest values any young athlete can take from the game.