Once upon a time, deep in the sun-baked heart of the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, a motley crew of kids would gather every evening to engage in a thrilling spectacle of basketball. Each one of these youngsters had a spirit as boundless as the open desert, and a love for basketball as deep as the Rio Grande itself. They hustled, they dribbled, and they shot hoops under the celestial glow of the enchanting New Mexico sky. Now, picture this: squirmy little Tom, with his freckles that matched the red rocks of Jemez Mountains, throwing the ball with such gusto that it seemed to touch the clouds. Then there was quiet, thoughtful Maria, her pigtails bouncing like the feisty prairie dogs of Carlsbad, outmaneuvering boys twice her size with her nimble moves. And, don't forget the high-flying Eddie! Eddie could jump so high that we all believed he could snatch a star right out of the star-studded skies of Taos. In the midst of these energetic human tumbleweeds was their imaginary friend, Chuckles the Coyote, a character as creatively wild as New Mexico itself. Chuckles, with his invisible hat and kaleidoscope glasses, would often throw ‘curveball’ advice that would leave the kids doubled over with laughter. He’d say things like, "Kids, you gotta confuse that basket, bounce the ball off your nose, it'll never see it coming!" or "Remember, a cactus never loses at hide and seek; be the cactus!" So there they were, a close-knit team of basketball enthusiasts in New Mexico, playing their hearts out, laughing uproariously, and learning from their antics with their friendly, invisible Coyote. Their spirit was as fiery as the local Hatch chilies and their camaraderie, as comforting as a bowl of warm posole, was a true reflection of the New Mexican spirit.