New youth basketball programme a success

The Camana Bay Arts & Recreation Centre was the venue for some thrilling youth basketball over the past couple of months.

The FTS Youth Basketball Championship represented a new U18 boys basketball tournament that involved six teams with more than 50 youth players.

basketball players
Let it Fly’s Andrew Stone of the team "Left it Fly," shown here in red driving toward the basket in the semi-final game against the Sol Blazers, was the most valuable player of the championship series.

“The idea was simple: Provide an opportunity for youth basketballers to have fun competing," said Paul Byles, founder of the youth event. "But the bonus was that each week we saw larger and more energetic crowds."

After two tightly contested semi-final games on 11 June, the "Let it Fly" team – coached by Redver Ebanks and Franz Manderson Jr. – won the best-of-three-game championship over the Clifton Hunter High School team on 25 June. Andrew Stone of Let it Fly won the Most Valuable Player award.

basketball players in action
Clifton Hunter’s Jaylin Johnson, shown here in the middle of two Academy Sports Club players during the semi-final game, helped his team into the finals.

“A huge thanks must go to all the coaches and officials for making this such a great event for the players and spectators,” said Byles.

Organisers say that the FTS girls basketball championship is up next and already in the planning stages. For further information about the tournament and youth basketball in general visit www.caymanyouthbasketball.ky.

This article was originally published in the May/June 2022 print edition of Camana Bay Times.

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