THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602210218
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jami Frankenberry
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
For as long as she can remember, C. Faye Tillery says the Suffolk Youth Basketball League awarded only ribbons for the first place teams. But that changed nine years ago.
``We had two teams playing (in a championship) and when his team lost, this little 7- or 8-year-old boy cried and cried because his team didn't win,'' Tillery said. ``When I saw that I thought, `We've got to do something during the season where everybody can get something.''
The next year Tillery, the Recreation Specialist for Suffolk Parks, and her co-workers started Youth Basketball Family Day, an event to which the public is invited to watch an afternoon of youth basketball midway through the season. Each player is awarded a certificate for participating and after each game, the teams get together for a reception.
``It puts a spark in it,'' Tillery said. ``It's something for the kids to look forward to. It's a time the community can get involved and see what we're doing. It's not just scheduling games.''
This year's Family Day will be held Saturday at Birdsong Recreation Center beginning at 9 a.m. Eight games will be played in three divisions, with the final game starting at 4 p.m.
Door prizes will be given out to spectators and special community guests will be visiting throughout the day. Admission is free.
Suffolk Parks is looking for volunteers to donate refreshments and door prizes. Anyone interested in helping should call 925-6326.
REGION WRESTLING TOURNAMENT: The Group AA, Region I wrestling tournament starts Saturday at 9 a.m. at Poquoson High School. Nansemond River, Lakeland, Southampton and Franklin are the area teams with wrestlers vying for a spot in the state tournament March 1-2 in Salem. The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the state meet.
Nansemond River has several wrestlers expected to advance to the state meet. Michael Merrell (119) is a two-time region runner-up and was 10-2 overall and 5-0 in Bay Rivers competition this year before Tuesday's match against Poquoson. Clay Strickland (145) finished third in the region last season and was also unbeaten in district matches. Other Warriors expected to place include: Sam Tep (12-5, 5-0 at 103), Damon Hill (16-1, 5-0 at 171), Ian Green (13-5, 4-1 at 189) and Chris White (15-1, 5-0 at heavyweight).
``A lot of them have improved over the year,'' Nansemond River coach Doug Dohey said. ``They're going to run into Poquoson somewhere along the way (in the region meet) and if we can knock off some of them, it puts us in a good position at state. The better you do in region, the better draw you get in state.''
Lakeland is led by James Temple at 215. The senior is 15-2 overall and 6-0 in the district. He finished the season ranked No. 1 in South Hampton Roads, and was the Region I champion last year at heavyweight. by CNB