By Odin Rasco, Mountain Democrat

A team of boys from Gold Country Basketball Inc. faced down El Dorado High School’s Girls Varsity Basketball team April 24 at the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado County West Slope’s Placerville Clubhouse as part of an ongoing series of community outreach games.

The rhythmic bounce of a basketball and the squeak of tennis shoes speeding across the court filled the air as the girls and boys ran from hoop to hoop. By halftime the boys (called the Golden Eagles) had secured a 15-point lead. The Golden Eagles saw a fair share of substitutions on the court throughout the game, with every member having a chance to bring their best to the court.

Unlike the Cougars, the boys aren’t affiliated with any one school; instead, they are at-risk boys aged between 7-18 who have been referred to the Gold Country Basketball program. Though the team may look like a motley group, when they hit the court their education on the fundamentals of the sport are hard to ignore, thanks to the efforts of local basketball guru and youth mentor Tracy Bunch.

Though the Golden Eagles never lost the advantage, the girls fought them every inch of the way, closing the gap to just 6 points at the start of the fourth quarter. The game closed out with a 2-point buzzer-beater, the boys taking the win 55-51. Both sides brought their all, sinking impressive 3-pointers and pulling off pass interceptions that left intended recipients momentarily frozen in surprise.

On most game days, Bunch would have been sitting along the sidelines with his team, cheering them on in between impromptu pep-talks and directing players. But Bunch was seated separately this time, for one simple reason — he coaches both teams, and didn’t want to have to take sides. If two teams weren’t enough, Bunch also coaches for a third basketball team and referees local events such as Special Olympics competitions.

Originally from Vossburg, Miss., Bunch moved to El Dorado County in 2006 and has been finding ways to give back to his community ever since. When considering Bunch’s busy schedule, it might boggle the mind how he manages to lead three sports teams, referee, serve as a youth mentor full-time at New Morning and still make time for his wife and kids.

“You know, Monday through Sunday, it can be a lot, but I just find ways to make it all work,” Bunch explained. “And the whole time, I just be me. Working at New Morning is great, it’s like finding a puzzle and being the right piece. I feel really supported to do the work I want to do.”

The Gold Country Basketball Inc. program has been a labor of love for Bunch, who helped spearhead its creation. He explained how he strongly believed a shared team activity can provide a support network that many youths might lack otherwise.

“I’ll have conversations with the kids, ask them about their problems, their goals, what they want to do in life, and sometimes, they’re shocked, because it’s the first time an adult is really asking them that and listening,” Bunch said. “Basketball is a platform. Its core purpose is focusing on team cooperation — passing the ball, communication, working together. And this group, everybody can meet someone who has a familiar story and background, and they can feel welcome.”

Established in 2021, the program continues to expand and evolve under Bunch’s leadership. The Golden Eagles joined the West Coast Impact League in 2023 and recently entered into a partnership with New Morning as a new community engagement initiative. Not only do the Golden Eagles face other local youth teams, they also go point-for-point against teams from community services such as the El Dorado County Probation Department.

Bunch endeavors to be the kind of mentor he needed in his own youth, and in so doing has seen some things come full circle. In his ninth grade year Bunch made the cut for his high school’s varsity team — he found an identity and popularity, but also encountered challenges.

“Some things really humbled me. At a game one time, I didn’t have tennis shoes; the only shoes I had were my church shoes, and people would make fun of me, but I wouldn’t let them discourage me. I got shredded up, they made me feel less than them, but I was still able to go out there, keep my head up and win the game,” Bunch recollected.

At a Golden Eagles game against El Dorado County Probation Department staff in September 2023, all the boys were gifted pairs of brand-new tennis shoes to take onto the court. Bunch admitted the moment required more than a little effort to hold back the tears.

“It gives me goosebumps. Makes me feel like I’m serving my purpose,” Bunch said.