City league plays basketball championship

Correspondent

Gyms with cheering parents a familiar surrounding to the children who participated in the final basketball games of the Portales City League on Saturday in Portales.

Correspondent photo: Ronnie Cain

The Pee Wee League championship game tip off. The Lady Tarheels defeated the Lady Huskies 7 to 4 at Lindsey-Steiner Elementary School.

Noah Swift, 10, played in the junior division championship game on Saturday afternoon. Swift was excited to play in the championship game but said his favorite part of basketball is having fun.

"I like playing a game and just having fun; everyone loves to score points," said Swift.

Becky Lopez was in attendance watching her granddaughter, Amber Lopez, who is 10, play in the girls junior division championship. Lopez said her granddaughter plays all kinds of sports including softball, basketball, soccer and volleyball.

Lopez stressed the important lessons of playing in the city league, such as being a part of a team and learning to work together.

"It is fun to see them grow from one year to the next or even one game to the next," said Lopez.

Amber Lopez said she was really excited to play in the championship game.

"I thought we would finally beat them (Red Raiders) but I guess not," said Amber Lopez.

Lopez said her favorite sport is basketball because it is really fun and she loves her teammates.

"I love my teammates and in some other sports my dad is not my coach but he is really fun to work with," said Lopez.

Amy Rippee, who coached the undefeated Red Raiders, explained that the Portales City League picks teams by doing a draft.

"The draft keeps the teams fair," said Rippee.

The coaches pick children for their teams in the draft order, according to Rippee, and the participating children are guaranteed playing time.

The Portales City League used to do tournaments but now the teams face off at the end of the season as they are seeded. Seed one and two play each other, seed three and four play each other and so on according to Rippee.

"It is amazing to see the progress from beginning to end. It is important that we teach them to play as a team at this age," said Rippee.

Rippee said teaching the children fundamentals and making it fun for the children is the most important thing.

"We are trying to build a good program for the future," said Rippee.