Fun Day all about sharing
MC basketball team spends a day with young playersBy Patrick Cooley, pcooley@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
As Ibi Watson dribbled the basketball up the court at the Norwood United Methodist Church on Saturday, the 10-year-old was guarded by the kind of player a 10-year-old doesn't usually face - the point guard of a college basketball team.
Watson was one of about 10 children, mostly between the ages of 10 and 12, who had the opportunity to play with the Marietta College men's basketball team over the weekend.
The occasion was the annual Missy Hays Memorial Basketball Fun Day, named after a former secretary at the church who died shortly after setting up a similar event last year.
"Last year we only had three children," said Mike Hays, Missy's husband. "We're pretty happy with the turnout.
"The college basketball players are here to help them out and play a few games with them," he said.
Kevin Knab, a freshman on the Marietta College basketball team, said the goal is to help kids have a good time with the sport.
"Once you get to that point, everything else will come," he said.
The entire team was at the church on Saturday, along with two coaches. After some drills, everyone was divided up into teams.
The competition was never serious, and throughout the day, the players encouraged the children and offered advice.
"This is a fun break from the season," Knab said.
Some of the children talked about what they learned.
"They showed us the basics of basketball," said Watson, 10, of Marietta.
"They showed us better form," said Stephen Harper, 11, of Marietta.
"They showed us how to get out of a pressure situation," said Corey Hill, 11, of Marietta.
The event was organized in part by The Right Path of Washington County, a group dedicated to keeping kids drug and alcohol free.
"We're trying to get so that we do this every year," said Cathy Harper, coordinator for The Right Path.
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01-05-09 2:09 PM
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