Well, it’s that time to get started with the 2018 Greyhounds.
There are 17 invitees for roster spots and two non-roster invitees this year.
Some information about this year’s schedule – we have six practices scheduled as of right now:
- Saturday, June 2 – from 9:00 AM until Noon – at the Armory
- Saturday, June 16 – from 9:00 AM until Noon – at the Armory
- Saturaday, June 23 – from 9:00 AM until Noon – at the Armory
- Saturday, June 30 – from 9:00 AM until Noon – at the Armory
- Saturday, July 7 – from 9:00 AM until Noon – at the Armory
- Saturday, July 14 – from 9:00 AM until Noon – at Broadway Christian Church
As is the Greyhound tradition, the July 14 practice will be the Greyhound Challenge Game. This year, we welcome back the members of the 2016 Greyhound team: Lindale Baker, Asa Holcomb, Keylan Horn, Bryce Irvin, Cody Koebel, Ian Meyer, Zane Meyer, Lemuel Miner, Tosin Ogungbade, Brendan Royer and team captains Connor Parrish and Kolin Easterling.
Now for the untold story:
With so many people wanting to play this year, those of us on the administrative side of team did our best to find practice courts and available space so that we could have TWO Greyhound teams – one for 5th/6th graders, and one for 3rd/4th/5th Graders. Unfortunately, Columbia has no such facilities available. A few that had the facilities gave us straight “No”s, and most places didn’t have the space available.
So, without the extra facilities, we’re left with a single team, and potentially a lot of cuts to whittle the roster to 12. As a person who has been on both sides of cuts, this isn’t where I want our teams to be.
Folks, we simply need more basketball courts in Columbia. More availability from schools, more courts in churches, more private indoor courts. If you know of places in the future that we can try, please let us know. It is likely that we run into this problem – too many Greyhounds and not enough roster spots – in the future, again. And simply put, we need help!
Oddly enough, the coach for TNT, Tyree Goolsby, is telling me that he’s starting to get a similar issue – too many kids, not enough roster spots.
Our second year – the year of the “Lost Greyhounds,” we didn’t have enough kids to field a single team. Now, we’re potentially at 5 cuts, plus the two non-roster guys. Basketball is gaining popularity again.