Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 15, 1995 TAG: 9511150024
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Area recreation departments are working at a feverish pace to put the final touches on what they hope will be another highly successful year in adult basketball.
"The last few years have been pretty good as far as our adult basketball program is concerned," said Tim Cooney, Montgomery County Parks and Recreation adult basketball coordinator. "We've had a good number of teams play and say that they enjoyed the league."
Cooney's league is one of five area adult leagues. Local residents can participate in leagues offered by the Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Pulaski County and Radford Parks and Recreation Departments. Men's and women's leagues are offered and in most cases are divided into different skill levels.
"We offer both an 'A' and a 'B' league to the teams that want to play," said Phil Conner, Blacksburg Parks and Recreation adult basketball coordinator. "Our league is normally pretty competitive, but teams of all skill levels play for us."
A deep talent pool makes for competitive leagues, Cooney said.
"In the past years we've had quite a few guys that played sports on the collegiate level play in our league," Cooney said. "We've had Tim Penn, who played at Radford University, and David Herbster and Donald Wayne Snell from Virginia Tech. I know that Quinton Nottingham [Tech ] plays over in the Blacksburg league."
Adding to the competitive atmosphere of the higher leagues is the practice of keeping statistics such as scoring average, 3-point shots made, and team scoring average. Both Cooney and Conner said their leagues keep track of such statistics and present awards to the league leaders at the end of the season.
"We give team trophies to the top three teams at the end of the regular season and the tournament," Cooney said. "We also give out a trophy to the player with the highest scoring average and the most 3-pointers made."
The area leagues are geared for area residents over the age of 17. Age restrictions vary from league to league, but Blacksburg's permits the youngest players to participate. Costs also vary, but teams interested in participating should expect to pay around $220.
"The money we charge is used to pay for gym time, someone to come to the school and open the gym and for officials," Cooney said. "Everything we charge gets put back into the program."
The majority of the proceeds from fees goes to paying officials, Conner said. He added the Blacksburg league hires Virginia High School League officials to work the adult league games.
"The quality of officiating is pretty good here," Conner said. "We have three officials work all our games. They are VHSL officials, so they do an excellent job with the league."
People interested in registering for one of the area adult leagues should contact their Parks and Recreation Department because entry deadlines are rapidly approaching.
If you have an idea for a story or note about recreational sports, call Chad Willis at 381-1672 in Montgomery County or Radford or (800) 346-1234, extension 672 elsewhere or fax to 381-1656.
by CNB