THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 29, 1995 TAG: 9503280104
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Wanted: bologna sandwiches, soft drinks, chips - practically anything to stuff a kid.
And these are athletic kids, so could be we're talking about a lot of food.
Two recreational basketball teams are going to the Virginia Recreation and Parks Society state basketball tournament April 7-9 in Rocky Mount.
And it's up to the parents, who are just as excited as the kids, to take care of feeding them for the weekend.
That's why, for the next couple of weeks, if you happen to meet a mother or dad of an 8- to 12-year-old who played recreational basketball this season, that person is likely to try selling you a raffle ticket, a doughnut or a cupcake.
``We're planning on one night,'' said one mom, Kim King. ``So right now, we're looking for $1,000 - $500 for each team - to pay for the motel rooms and for food. If they win on Saturday, that'll be another night. . . . ''
Somehow, they'll work it out, she said.
``If we get up there, and the Lord blesses us for Sunday, I'm sure the plastic will come out - and we'll do what we can do.''
Now, to explain how two teams from the Smithfield end of the county got named district champs this year:
The Smithfield Bulls, 11- and 12-year-olds, and the Smithfield Rebels, 8- to 10-year-olds, beat teams from Windsor and Surry to advance to the district tournament. When it came time for the districts, however, the recreation departments in the Eastern District - from Isle of Wight westward to Emporia - were unable or unwilling to host the games, said George Kindred, with the Isle of Wight County Recreational Facilities Authority.
At that point, because Isle of Wight hosted the district tournament last year, Kindred said, it was allowed to issue a challenge to the other district teams: Play our teams for the championship and the right to advance to the state tournament.
The Smithfield teams wanted badly to go to the state tournament. One Smithfield team went last year, the first from Isle of Wight in 20 years, and placed third. That team must have established a reputation for toughness because only one of the three Smithfield rec teams was challenged. And that team, 13- and 14-year-olds, lost.
The Bulls and the Rebels were on the way.
And the coaches and parents are determined both teams will get to the small town between Roanoke and Danville.
``It will be a good chance for them to get out of town and to represent the county,'' King said.
The town, she told me, is smaller than Smithfield with a population of about 4,000. It will be overflowing with miniature basketball players that weekend.
``We're selling raffle tickets, try ing to have a bake sale, and we're asking for donations,'' said Evelyn Riddick, one of three Rebels coaches. ``Our time is limited, and we need more money than we did last year because we have two teams going rather than one.''
The local parks and rec department has agreed to donate use of vans and to pay for gasoline and state tournament registration fees. Coaches and parents will pay their own way, but the boys need community support.
``We're looking for the money for accommodations and food,'' said King, whose son Bartley plays for the Rebels. `` Nothing fancy.''
``You're going to feed these athletes junk food?'' I asked.
``We're going to feed these athletes whatever we can,'' she said. ``They are just stoked on playing basketball.''
And they appear to be pretty good. I watched them practice recently. It's amazing how some of those little guys can pop that ball smack into that tall, tall basket.
So if you'd like to help send two teams from Isle of Wight all the way across the state, buy a raffle ticket, a doughnut or a cupcake. Parents also will accept food or money. MEMO: Anyone interested in helping the parents help the kids can call King at
357-7602 or Kindred at parks and rec, 357-2291.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Derek Stith, left, and George Scott will accompany the Bulls and
Rebels to the state tournament.
by CNB