Russellville to host youth state basketball tourney
For the past three years local All-Star teams participating in Alabama Recreation and Parks Association basketball have had to travel to Gadsden to participate in state tournaments.
Next year they will know what it is like to participate in the tournament on their home courts.
The ARPA awarded Russellville the right to host the tournaments next year. The tournaments will be the second weekend in March and will feature 100-110 teams.
“I’m excited about it,” said Chad Sears. “We put in a bid last year, but was unsuccessful.”
Sears said the opportunity to host will be a benefit to Russellville and Franklin County. With roughly 100 teams coming in from as far away as Mobile, area hotel rooms will be booked and local businesses can expect a boost in sales.
Russellville has experience hosting basketball tournaments – it hosted a travel ball tournament a few years ago.
“The travel tournament gave us an idea of what to expect,” Sears said. “The difference is the travel tournament was one day, this tournament will be an entire weekend.”
Of course it will not only be Russellville benefiting from the tournament. With so many teams competing, some additional sites are needed.
In addition to the Park and Rec Center and the Chucky Mullins Center, games will be played at Russellville Middle School, Russellville High School and Calvary Baptist Church. Sears said games would also be held at a couple of county schools including Tharptown and possibly Belgreen.
Sears is hoping the tournament will be a success so the ARPA will return to Russellville.
“I want to keep the basketball tournament as long as we can. I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder,” Sears said. “I also want Russellville to host the ARPA softball tournament.”
With a tournament this size, volunteers will be needed to help assure things run smoothly. Sears said the Park and Rec Board will begin meeting at noon on the last Thursday of each month and people who want to volunteer for the tournament should attend some of the meetings to get more information. The first meeting will be July 28.
