Basketball

  • Referee James Norville checks out Cullen Miller of the Mini Vipers after getting bumped during play in the second grade league.
  • Referee Ryne Turke tells a Greenfield third grade player where to pass the ball. Referees don’t call fouls on teams under sixth grade — they ignore the double dribbles and other minor calls and focus more on keeping the game going.
  • Casey Hager recovers after falling out of bounds trying to save the ball for the Our Saviour School third grade team.
  • Eleise Walker, of Greenfield, takes video of her granddaughter, Mara Wood, playing on the Greenfield third grade team.
  • Our Saviour School second grade team’s Brecken Cunningham puts up a shot against the Mini Vipers.
  • Families line the wall of the Fitness World sports complex to watch the second grade league game of Our Saviour School against the Mini Vipers.
  • Ryne Turke moves a shorter goal into place for a second grade league game.
  • Charlie Guidish (left) of the War Eagles battles with Paxton Suttles of Brown’s Shoe Fit during a second grade league game.
  • Skee Sanders of Jack
  • War Eagles coach Cliff Bumgarner greets his team as they come off the court in a break in second grade league action.
  • Teams play last week at the 2022 Fitness World Winter Youth Hoops League in Jacksonville. 

by Steve Warmowski

Around 350 children participate in the basketball league games held Monday and Thursday evenings during January and February. The participation level is Fitness World’s biggest to date, said organizer Ryne Turke. The league starts with children as young as pre-kindergarten in the beginner division, all the way up to sixth grade teams.

There are 31 teams comprised of youth from Jacksonville (including Our Saviour School and Illinois School for the Deaf) and the surrounding area inclusive of Ashland, Concord, Bluffs, Franklin, Greenfield, Mount Sterling, Petersburg, Roodhouse, Waverly, White Hall, Winchester and Virginia. If a player isn’t associated with a school or group, they can join the league and be assigned to a team.

Upcoming youth leagues, such as indoor soccer and their after-school athlete program, are in February; youth volleyball is in March. In the summer, Fitness World offers other options including junior high/high school basketball and sand volleyball, plus DISCOVER Summer Camps. For adults, Fitness World offers co-ed and women’s indoor volleyball, sand volleyball, wiffleball, spikeball and indoor soccer. 

Fitness World also offers a skills division for their youngest players, introducing them to basketball with fun drills and games. The next Youth Hoops League will be in September, with other youth/adult sports leagues planned as well — find the schedule and more information online at fitnessworldhc.com.

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