McKenzie Girls' Basketball Organizing Youth League

Youth girls' basketball is coming to McKenzie this winter.

McKenzie High School girls' basketball Head Coach Dru Emerson is organizing youth league basketball for grades 2-5.

Emerson told The Banner middle school Head Coach Kinleigh Harris will be "heavily involved", as will high school players.

Emerson said the program was needed to increase numbers and give girls an earlier start learning "such a high-skilled game." The coach hopes the league leads to more sixth graders trying out for the middle school team.

"It'll take some time," he said. "But, in the future, you'll see the program flourish."

The young ballers will play in the high school and middle school gymnasiums, which Emerson hopes will give them something to look forward to if they continue to play.

Five practices will be held in December, where players will work on fundamentals.

There will be two play dates each in January and February, where teams from other communities will be invited to play.

Emerson hopes the league will parlay into travel ball in the spring to get the young players even more experience.

The coach hopes that involvement in practices and officiating games will also be a boon for high school players aspiring to coach.

The introduction of the girls' youth league follows the creation of a boys' youth league last year by high school Head Coach Justin Lowery and middle school Head Coach Colin Lester.