Loeras return from NBA All-Star weekend

MOSES LAKE — Some people say lightening doesn’t strike twice.

Nobody told the Loera family.

Nearly four years after  Jordan Loera was selected to the Jr. WNBA national team,  her younger sister Jessica was selected to represent the 2008-2009 Jr. WNBA national team at the NBA All-Star weekend in Phoenix last month.

“It’s life altering,” Jessica’s mother Lori Loera said of her and Jessica’s trip to the NBA All-Star weekend. “It gives you an (understanding) of what’s important.”

When Jessica and Lori Loera arrived at their hotel in Phoenix, the first person they saw was the doctor — “Dr. J,” Julius Erving

“We got out of the car and we saw Dr. J,” Lori Loera said. “We got his autograph and that’s how it started.”

Jessica was one of just five girls chosen from more than 880,000 nominees to be a member of the 2008-2009 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Team at the NBA All-Star game last month in Phoenix.

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program is a way to give back to the communities and Lori Loera said the program represents each of its S.T.A.R. qualities — Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Attitude and Respect.

“It’s about giving back,” Lori Loera said of the program.

While the Loeras were at the All-Star weekend, Jessica participated in an All-Star Jam Session where her coach was Houston Rockets center Yao Ming.

“I shot the ball over him and made it,” Jessica said. “He was taller than I expected.”

During the weekend, Jessica Loera and her national team teammates played a game against an All-Star team from the Phoenix area.

“We won by 20 points,” Jessica said with a smile.

Although Jessica’s team won their All-Star game, she said her favorite part of the weekend was the NBA’s slam dunk contest.

“When they did the dunk when Nate Robinson dunked over (Dwight) Howard,” Jessica said was her favorite part of the contest. “I didn’t think he was going to make it.”

The members of the national team and their parents were busy the whole weekend and they were unable to complete some of the items on the agenda, Lori Loera said.

“We didn’t get to work with the Special Olympics team,” she said. “That was the most disappointing factor, if there was one.”

While the Loeras didn’t complete everything on their national team agenda, they were excited for the opportunity.

“It was amazing,” Lori Loera said. “It was a good experience. It really puts things into perspective.”