Valley Ball tips off this week

SPRING VALLEY -- The 9-foot, 6-inch rims are ready to be rocked.

Players will be slam dunking and shooting three-pointers this week at the Valley Ball 3-on-3 basketball tournament at RPA Memorial Park on on Spring Valley Drive.

The 22nd Valley Ball tournament is the continuation of an event that began in 1986 with eight teams playing on a basketball court with the short rims that is only about half as long as regulation. This year's tournament will have up to 27 teams playing in A and B divisions.

Tournament games begin Friday and run through Sunday afternoon's championships.

Players are eighth graders and older.

"It just keeps growing and growing and growing," said co-director Joda Burgess, a former Marshall University basketball player.

Burgess and J.B. Blankenship, his business partner at the WeCareMedical home equipment supply company in Ashland, took over operation of the tournament last year.

Last year's winners were The Dirkanators in the A Division and Skinny Sweaty Men in the B Division. One of the A Division teams had Tamar Slay, a former Marshall star who played three NBA seasons.

Blankenship said the A Division this year is stronger than ever.

"We've got some real good competition," he said. "Last year was the strongest I've ever seen and this year is even stronger."

RPA Community Park has some bleacher seating, but many spectators watch from their lawn chairs. Concessions are available.

A pre-tournament meeting for teams is scheduled at 6 p.m. Monday in the old Vinson High School gym. Teams that aren't entered can register at the meeting.

For more information contact Blankenship at 412-1905 or jb2@wecaremedical.org.