THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407120143
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Ahhh, July.
Long, lazy 90-degree days at the ballpark working up a sweat just watching youngsters in long pants, socks and T-shirts run the bases.
As Little League and American Legion ball shifts into high gear and parents and their children try to ignore constant heat advisories, there are a few who opt for the shorts and tank tops of a winter sport.
The air conditioning in Booker T. Washington High School's gym has suited all of the participants in the Norfolk Summer Basketball League just fine.
In its inaugural year 12 teams played games four nights a week and will wrap up with a tournament this weekend.
With the Norfolk Catholic League moving to Virginia Beach, Booker T. boys basketball coach Barry Hamler saw a void that needed to be filled.
``We got with the administrators of the Norfolk Public Schools and started the league,'' Hamler said.
But the league isn't limited to Norfolk schools. First Colonial, Phoebus and Western Branch are among the participants, as well as a team from Ahoskie, N.C.
``It gives us a chance to play some good teams,'' said Ahoskie coach Charles Simmons, who is good friends with Hamler. ``We try to have the teams scrimmage every year and it just gives us a chance to get away from the teams we play all of the time and play some new teams.''
The summer league takes a much more relaxed stance from the winter season, fun being the main objective.
``I think it is a really good activity for the inner city youth,'' Hamler said. ``You can't ignore the fact that it gives them a chance to improve their skills, but the real value is that it gives the kids something positive to do.''
Maury coach Jack Baker agrees that keeping the kids off the streets four nights out of the week is the main purpose, but he takes advantage of the opportunities it offers his younger players.
``It gives some of our younger kids a chance to play with and against some varsity kids,'' Baker said. ``It helps us come together as a team.''
It also gives Baker's assistant John Kelly a chance to take the helm.
Kelly took charge last week as the Commodores took on First Colonial. He offered instruction throughout the game as well as lots of praise as Baker watched quietly from the stands.
It wasn't until late in the second half, when Maury's layups stopped falling and First Colonial's much smaller team started beating the Commodores in the paint that Baker started trying to will the shots to fall with a few urgent shouts of ``Get it in there.''
He made a few substitutions and then suggested to one of his players that they do layups after the game. The player immediately developed some shoulder pains, as Baker laughed.
Thanks to some smart passes by Ray Heard and a couple of smooth layups from Craig Coleman, Maury retook control of the game and won, 57-38.
``It's great for the kids to keep up their skills,'' said Kelly, who has been a volunteer assistant to Baker for three years. ``It's a little less competitive, and we try to let some of the kids try some things, they might not otherwise get a chance to do.
``You are a little more restricted during the regular season.''
While all of that is going on in the gym, Hamler is equally proud of another program that goes on year-round behind the scenes at Booker T. and several other schools throughout the area.
Cheryl Diem is one of many volunteers who spends her Thursday nights handing out practice SAT tests.
Designed two years ago by Bob Bobulinski with college-bound athletes in mind, but not limited to them, the program is there to help anyone who wants to raise his score.
``We go over it and over it until they pass,'' Diem said. ``We learn their weaknesses and concentrate on those.
``We do (the SAT prep) every Thursday except Thanksgiving, and it has really helped a lot of kids,'' Hamler said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Ray Heard of Maury watches teammate Jon Lester and First Colonial's
Anthony Cole scramble for the ball.
by CNB