North Country Community College Men's and Women's Basketball teams have a long standing tradition of recruiting talented student-athletes—many of them right in their backyard. This year's squads are no different, with 10 Saints residing from Franklin, St. Lawrence and Clinton Counties.

This weekend is like most for these student-athletes and coaches—they have games both Saturday and Sunday against Region III foes. But this weekend is special for the Saints because they get to host these teams—not at Alumni Gymnasium at Sparks Athletic Complex in Saranac Lake—but in the hometown of three of the Saints, at Chateaugay High School.

Saturday's games versus Corning Community College are slated to begin at 12pm and 2pm for the women and men, respectively. Sunday the men will begin at 1pm and the women follow at 3pm as the Saints take on Finger Lakes Community College.

"For years and years, the families, friends and fans of our student-athletes from all over the North Country have been traveling to Saranac Lake to watch us play. This is a way for NCCC Saints Basketball to give back to those people that have supported us for so long," said Athletic Director and Head Men's Basketball Coach Chad LaDue.

 Former Chateaugay star and Head Women's Basketball Coach, Jerrad Dumont, saw Chateaugay as a great place to start what he hopes to be a tradition of bringing college basketball games to high school gyms in the North Country each year. "Obviously, I'm partial to Chateaugay—but if this is successful for everyone, I think we'd like to do this each year—maybe at a different school each year. And maybe in different sports as well," said Dumont.

North Country Community College has campuses in two additional locations in the Franklin and Essex Counties—Malone and Ticonderoga—and has been looking to be more involved in those and surrounding communities. "This is a great way for out athletic programs to be closer and more accessible for all our students at the Malone campus—I really hope that they come out to the games this weekend to make this event a huge success for the College and Community," said LaDue

There is a $1 admission charge at the door that will go to Chateaugay Central School. NCCC students will have free entry with their NCCC Student ID. Additionally, all concession profits will benefit Chateaugay Central School.

For more information, please contact Athletic Director Chad LaDue at 888-TRY-NCCC ext 1323 or by emailing cladue@nccc.edu.