Basketball Program Creates ConcernsSomething is driving the youth away from the Speedway Junior League Basketball. Speedway Park Board Member Tim Smith said he observed a game one Saturday and was amazed with the program’s deterioration. Smith reported his findings at the January 15 park board meeting. Board member Ray Lawrence said enrollment is down in the elementary schools by about thirty students but that is not a significant enough number to cause the teams to triple up to be able to play. “There has to be something else,” he said. The program has dwindled to the point that third and fourth grade girls have to compete against fifth and sixth grade girls. “I watched some bad basketball,” Smith. The unevenly matched games are distorting the word “recreation” for these youngsters. “What were they learning?” he asked. Smith said the season might appear shorter but in reality the girls are playing double headers. “The back to back games are taking the fun out of the game,” he said. Smith mostly addressed the disparities in the girls program but he did mention the boys no longer play a full court game. Park board member Lisa Edington said her son use to participate but he did not like the half court games, so he left the program to play full court basketball at Thatcher. Smith was concerned the program could fall apart if the numbers continue to shrink. The program is in a transition because the current director is retiring and the board cannot find a replacement. He suggested organizing a board to operate the program instead of relying on one director
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