We’re Mad This March For …. Basketball Documentaries!
It’s safe to say everyone loves basketball in March. The tournament stakes are high and it's safe to say we all look forward to the heart-warming stories of comeback kids and Cinderella teams. Of course, this is PBS so we’ll help take the madness out of March with a collection of basketball documentaries that highlight different experiences across school programs and showcase in-depth stories of players who bring their everything to the game. All of these films are ranked first in their division and conference, just press play and get into it.
Editor's Note: This article is updated regularly to include the latest available programming and information.
The Golden Year: Howard Women's Basketball
From WHUT: Since 1974, the women’s basketball program has been committed to excellence that extends beyond the court. Facing triumph and challenges, the women’s basketball team continues to raise the bar— embodying the spirit of resilience, determination and pride.
Home Court | Independent Lens
Premieres March 24
From Independent Lens: Home Court is the coming-of-age story of Ashley Chea, a Cambodian American basketball prodigy in Southern California. As her high school career crescendos, her life intensifies amid recruitment, injury, and triumph as her natural talent inspires the support of those around her.
Native Ball: Legacy of a Trailblazer
Each year in the U.S., nearly 5,000 high-school girls’ basketball players earn a full-ride Division I scholarship. In 1992, only one was Native American: Blackfeet Nation’s Malia Kipp. Living in two worlds presented challenges, but Kipp carried the burden with grace and grit. Described by her chief as “a warrior,” she blazed a heroic and inspiring trail for other Native girls to follow.
Malia Kipp grew in a small remote town on the Blackfeet Reservation, where family and basketball went hand-in-hand. She became a role model to young Native American’s through her achievements on the court and in the classroom.
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Class C: The Only Game In Town
From Montana PBS: Class C follows five basketball teams from Montana's smallest schools on their journey to win the state championship. The feature length documentary tells the story of a changing rural America and the girls who carry hope and heartbreak onto the basketball court.
This documentary is a classic from 2008 but it is chock full of basketball icons who help illuminate the transformative power of basketball. It's an absolute gem from the Montana PBS library.
Basketball, Water and the Lost City of Elbowoods
From Prairie Public: The 1942 Elbowoods High School basketball team made it to the North Dakota State Class “B” championship game. But they lost in a bizarre twist that results in a 60-year effort to right a wrong. “Basketball, Water and the Lost City of Elbowoods” relives the excitement of that basketball season. It also examines the fate of the team’s hometown on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
Playing Like a Girl: The House That Rob Built
In an era when gender discrimination in sports was the norm, Coach Selvig built a "house" of inclusion and empowerment at the University of Montana by recruiting female athletes from ranches, farms and Native reservations.