LYNN — The Lynn Parks and Recreation Summer Basketball League — a staple of Lynn summer athletics — wrapped up another season Thursday night with three championship games inside the air-conditioned gym at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.
And as another season comes to a close, it’s worth a look at just how far this league has come over the past 25 years.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time now, and this league just keeps growing every year,” said Jeff Byrd, who has been a driving force behind the league
One of the things that makes the league so successful is the inclusion of the entire Lynn community. Games are played twice a week in both East and West Lynn, it’s free to sign up and local businesses take part in sponsoring the action. It gives the kids in the city a place to go and blow off their energy during the summer, and it gives their parents peace of mind to know their kids are in a safe place.
“I’ve seen kids sign up for this tournament in elementary school and play it all the way through their senior year of high school,” Byrd said. “They love competing every year. The parents love that there’s a place for their kids to go and do something productive. And then at the end of it all, we have this big event where parents and family and friends all come to watch and enjoy the championship games. It’s really a fun atmosphere every year.”
And the league isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s expanding. An all-girls league was started on a small scale this year, and there are more plans to make the league as a whole even bigger.
“This thing isn’t stopping anytime soon, and it’s already really big,” said Byrd. “We have 24 teams total — 12 in East Lynn and 12 in West Lynn — and if kids don’t show up the first week there isn’t enough room to put them on a team. As long as the demand is there, we’re going to keep putting this league on and keep growing it every year.”
Byrd also gave a shoutout to all of the sponsors and volunteers who helped make the league possible once again this year. The staff consisted of Jarell Byrd, Geanni Ferreira, Lashaunda Hogan, Nyasia Chalas and Jakyra Uyi.
As for the action on Thursday night, there was plenty of it. The best teams from East Lynn and West Lynn across the three divisions — elementary school, middle school and high school — went toe-to-toe in an entertaining slate of games.
In the elementary school title game, John Jay Walsh earned the victory over Councilor Rick Starbard by a score of 55-35. Eeshaw Rucker took home MVP honors for John Jay Walsh with an 18-point effort, while Kameron Rucker and Keith Chandler were named co-MVPs of Councilor Rick Starbard after each dropping 16 points.
In the middle school championship, Gannon Building Association just barely took home the trophy after beating Dandero Brothers General Construction, 41-39. Lionel Rivera was named the MVP of Gannon Building Association after scoring 19 points, while Preston Kellman’s 12 points were enough to earn him MVP honors for Dandreo Brothers General Construction.
The night was capped off by the high school title game, which saw Councilor Fred Hogan take down John’s Fuel Services 59-48 to bring home the championship trophy. Dyrrell Rucker scored 28 points to earn MVP honors for Councilor Fred Hogan, while Brandon Summers scored 19 points to take home MVP for John’s Fuel Services.
The all-girls league will hold its championship games next Thursday at Marshall Middle School
