The Comox Valley is hosting three basketball ventures, all designed to help step up the level of play here in the North Island for boys and girls.
The 23rd annual Thunderball Basketball League for Grade 4, 5, 6, and 7 boys and girls will start on April 14. This is a Sunday league that has three separate divisions: Grade 4 and 5 boys and girls mixed, who play at Lake Trail Middle School; a Grade 6 and 7 girls league at G.P. Vanier; and a Grade 6 and 7 boys league that also runs at G.P. Vanier on Sunday mornings.
Blake Tobacca again will be spearheading the proceedings at Lake Trail, while Larry Street and Tony Edwards will oversee the development at G.P. Vanier. Many local players from the high schools are the coaches, as well as keen parents.
Sign up for this league is on two nights: Monday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 20 at G.P. Vanier by the gym from 6 to 8 p.m. both nights. You can also register by contacting larrystreetcar@gmail.com and a form will be sent to you. All the schools and community centres have registration forms available as well.
The annual Run and Gun basketball league for Grade 8 and 9 boys starts April 9 at G.P. Vanier. This league runs on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. and all players get two games per night. The league has players from all over the Valley and from Campbell River. Sign up is on the first and second nights – April 9 and 11.
Finally, all boys under 15 as of Jan. 1, 2013 (basically Grade 9s) are eligible to come to a Basketball B.C. tryout camp at G.P. Vanier. The camp runs Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. both evenings, and the head coach for the North Island team this year is again Larry Street from Vanier. The team prepares for a final basketball jamboree at the Langley Events Centre in mid May.
Interested parties can register online with Basketball.bc.ca or contact larrystreetcar@gmail.com.
– Comox Valley Basketball