Damascus 5th and 6th grade basketball tourney

Sullivan West takes second in Damascus tournament

Travel team takes it to the lake in Wallenpaupack basketball on March 15 to 18

By RICHARD A. ROSS

DAMASCUS, PA — If you want to excel at something, you’ve got to put in the time practicing and learning. And it’s a definite advantage if you can start the process when you are young. Many young athletes don’t start playing basketball formally until they reach junior high school, but schools that have great winning traditions have excellent feeder programs that begin much earlier.

Sullivan West kids can participate in the Town of Callicoon Youth Basketball program on Saturday mornings.

As the article in The River Reporter on March 2 pointed out, that program is a very positive enterprise. To advance the process of building a more competitive team down the line, several parents got the idea of forming a 5th- and 6th-grade travel team and giving these kids a chance to compete against age-mates from other places.

A group of parents, including Sullivan West athletic director Dave Franskevicz, have supported the venture by putting up the money for t-shirts, tournament fees and the use of the gym. The parents convinced Lou Farragher to volunteer his time as coach. The Sullivan West Elementary PTSO sponsors the team in name only.

The young Dawgs have played Eldred, Honesdale, Damascus and Delaware Valley-Shohola.

This past weekend, the team defeated Damascus in the opening round of the Damascus Tournament before falling to Delaware-Valley Shohola.

The next challenge will come this week as the Sullivan West travel team makes a run in the third annual “Take it to the Lake” March Madness Basketball Tournament on March 15 to 18 in Wallenpaupack. The boys’ championship game will be held in the North Intermediate School gym at 5:00 p.m. All teams will be guaranteed at least two games.