Basketball team to play at American Airlines Center

Cedar Hill—Corey Chism will channel his inner-Norman Dale on the afternoon of Nov. 19 when the Cedar Hill High School Boys Basketball Team plays at the Dallas Mavericks’ American Airlines Center.

The Longhorns seventh-year head coach will take in the dimensions of the NBA regulation basketball court. 

And much like the fictitious Dale, played by the late Gene Hackman, did in the 1985 film classic, “Hoosiers,” he’ll remind his players that playing in a large, impressive venue is no different than the confines of their own gym.

Except that it’s a dream come true.

Chism, a Cedar Hill High School Class of 2001 Graduate, has been attending Mavericks games since the Reunion Arena days in the 1980s. He counts seeing Dirk Nowitzki and Allen Iverson at the AAC among his highlights.

the Longhorns will play at the AAC for the first time in the downtown Dallas arena’s 25-year history in the “Court of Dreams.” 

They’ll face Arlington Bowie at 2 p.m. in a rematch of a 62-61 Longhorn victory last December in Cedar Hill.

The CHHS-Bowie game will be preceded by Denton vs. Plano East at 12:30 p.m.

“I’m excited for all of the participating athletes to say they played on an NBA floor. It’s a very unique opportunity,” Chism said. “We’ve been trying to do this for three years. Hopefully, it’s something we can do going forward, but we’re at the mercy of the NBA schedule.”

Tickets purchased to the game will include tickets to the Mavericks game against the New York Knicks, the NBA Eastern Conference runner-up from last season, at 8:30 p.m. that evening. 

Chism is known for his trademark white towel throughout Longhorn games. It’s not something he sees Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd emulating.

“Kidd is cool, calm and collective,” Chism said. “He won’t need the towel as much as I would.”

SOURCE Cedar Hill Independent School District