Rocky Boy teen aims for Australian basketball tournament

It was the thrill of a lifetime last year when Kelsey Standing Rock's basketball team, the Rocky Boy Stars, won the Montana Class B championship.

He was the only freshman on the team.

His role on the team caught the eye of some people far away — Australia — and that opened the door to another thrill of a lifetime.

Down Under Sports, a 21-year-old organization that invites athletes from the United States to compete in basketball tournaments in Australia and New Zealand, heard of Standing Rock's prowess and asked him to take part in this summer's tournament.

The goal of the program is "to use the common language of sports to bridge the continents," the organization's Facebook page said.

If all goes well, Standing Rock will travel to Austrailia for a week in mid-July.

"It's exciting," said Standing Rock. "I'm looking forward to it."

But the second thrill of a lifetime doesn't come easy.

Standing Rock will have to raise almost $5,000 to go to the games.

His family is working to raise the funds now.

His mother, Paulette Standing Rock, is holding raffles for her beadwork. She is hoping to sell refreshments at Rocky Boy basketball games. And she will be going to Havre area businesses, asking them to help out.

Every month, the Standing Rocks have to make $250. It hasn't been easy, but they have met the goal so far.

They know, though, that there is a lot of work ahead.

"This will be tremendous for Kelsey, she said. "we're going to keep working on it."

It was the thrill of a lifetime last year when Kelsey Standing Rock's basketball team, the Rocky Boy Stars, won the Montana Class B championship.

He was the only freshman on the team.

His role on the team caught the eye of some people far away — Australia — and that opened the door to another thrill of a lifetime.

Down Under Sports, a 21-year-old organization that invites athletes from the United States to compete in basketball tournaments in Australia and New Zealand, heard of Standing Rock's prowess and asked him to take part in this summer's tournament.

The goal of the program is "to use the common language of sports to bridge the continents," the organization's Facebook page said.

If all goes well, Standing Rock will travel to Austrailia for a week in mid-July.

"It's exciting," said Standing Rock. "I'm looking forward to it."

But the second thrill of a lifetime doesn't come easy.

Standing Rock will have to raise almost $5,000 to go to the games.

His family is working to raise the funds now.

His mother, Paulette Standing Rock, is holding raffles for her beadwork. She is hoping to sell refreshments at Rocky Boy basketball games. And she will be going to Havre area businesses, asking them to help out.

Every month, the Standing Rocks have to make $250. It hasn't been easy, but they have met the goal so far.

They know, though, that there is a lot of work ahead.

"This will be tremendous for Kelsey, she said. "we're going to keep working on it."