The Salmon Arm Adult Basketball League wrapped up a succesful inaugural season with two final games on March 14.
This year’s league was made up of four teams: the BC Buds, whose core group have been travelling to Kamloops to play in the masters league for years, The Old Auto All-Stars captained and lead by Rhys Waters, head coach of the Salmon Arm Secondary Golds basketball team, the Monstars and the Journeymen.
“For the first time that anyone involved in the local basketball scene can remember, Salmon Arm has a very engaged adult league involving four teams, with official referees and scorekeepers. A true, recreationally competitive league with participants from 17 to 56 years old,” said Kevin Flynn who has helped to organize and plays in the league.
The season ran from October to March, managed to get over 60 players on the court through the season, and gave each team close to 20 games in a round-robin format.
All games were played at Salmon Arm Secondary, Sullivan Campus on Tuesdays evenings. All proceeds from the league over and above the costs of officials supported the Golds basketball program.
In the consolation final, the Monstars edged the Journeymen 58-50.
Cordell Roper led the charge for the Monstars with an impressive 26 points.
In the finals, the BC Buds won an exciting game against the Mascon Old Auto All Stars 76-70.
Waters says the league will continue next fall, with registration information available next school year.
Waters descibed it as a league for experienced basketball players, looking for competitive games, but no personal or team glory, just good fun basketball.
“Adult basketball leagues often fail because players relive their glory days and can be hard on one another and the refs. The feedback this year was tremendously positive, from players and our local referee’s association,” he said.
“The basketball was intended to be recreational but the games were spirited and very competitive,” Flynn said.