Glenville, W.Va. – The Glenville State men's basketball team and Head Coach Stephen Dye is pleased to announce that they will host Jakobi's Journey Basketball Classic, a conference challenge between the MEC and PSAC.
 
The tournament will take place on Saturday, November 11^th and Sunday, November 12^th at the Waco Center on the campus of Glenville State College. The participating teams from the Mountain East Conference (MEC) are the Glenville State Pioneers and the Bobcats of West Virginia Wesleyan while Slippery Rock University and California University of Pennsylvania will represent the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
 
The conference challenge is designed to raise awareness about Infantile Scoliosis. The tournament is named after Jakobi Dye who is the son of GSC Head Men's Basketball Coach Stephen Dye and his wife Tia. Jakobi was diagnosed with infantile scoliosis when he was six months old.
 
Scoliosis is not simply a 'curve' of the spine, it is a more complex, three-dimensional deformity that can be diagnosed in childhood. Progressive infantile scoliosis is a serious condition that can become life-threatening if not treated properly. The abnormal twisting of the spine can cause abnormal thorax growth which is accompanied by decreased lung volumes in severe cases.
 
Around 90 percent of infantile scoliosis cases cure themselves. The remaining 10 percent of children with progressive curves must be treated promptly.
 
On Saturday, November 11^th West Virginia Wesleyan will take on California (PA) at 4:00 p.m. followed by Glenville State and Slippery Rock at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, November 12^th West Virginia Wesleyan will battle Slippery Rock at 2:00 p.m. followed by Glenville State and California (PA) at 4:00 p.m.
 
All four teams in the Jakobi's Journey Basketball Classic will be warming up in Jakobi's Journey t-shirts featuring the slogan, 'Bent Not Broken.' Thanks to the special group of coaches from West Virginia Wesleyan, California (PA), and Slippery Rock who are willing to help raise awareness for children like Jakobi.
 
T-shirts will also be available at the Waco Center during all four games at $15.00 per shirt. If you can't make the games and still want a shirt, please contact Coach Dye at (304) 462-6228.
 
For more information on the Jakobi's Journey Basketball Classic, please contact Stephen Dye.