Women's Hoops Guru

By Kathleen Radebaugh

PHILADELPHIA _ Try if you so dare to separate the young from the old. You won’t be able to do it.

In a 100 degree plus gym, the only things sweating more than the Gatorade bottles and water jugs sitting courtside are the players on the Columbia Blue and White teams who were competing for first place Monday night in the Women’s NCAA Summer Basketball League at Northeast Philadelphia High School.

This game at the Guru's alma mater was a tie-breaker for first seed before heading into playoff schedule on Wednesday night.

Midway through the second half, parents and onlookers found themselves wiping their brows as well.

A long time respected league filled with dominate Division I, II, and III women’s basketball players, the two-night weekly action is the summer also includes players about to enter their rookie year at a colleg, as well as players five to six years out of school and still looking for a competitive pickup game.

Coach of the Columbia Blue team, Tracy Harmon, a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University in 1990, started playing in this league when she was a sophomore in high school and is now at 35 coaching a playoff team.

“I played up until four years ago when I turned 30,” said Harmon. “I stopped playing because I was in a car accident while I was pregnant. Now I am 35, and I knew I wanted to stay with the league. The girls are great. There is a lot of good talent within the league so I wanted to stay involve as much as I could.”

During the game, Harmon walked up and the down sidelines, head down, talking about missed jumpers and unnecessary calls. Occasionally, she directed those comments towards the lone player sitting on a grandmother-like swivel chair gulping down her now lukewarm water. During timeouts, the goals never changed for the team: try shots that not normally taken, especially outside the paint, and always, always go for the rebound.

“When you are in a competitive league like this, which is pretty much all Division I and high level Division II players, no matter what, its going to be competitive,” said Harmon. “That’s why you like being around it. Everyone in this league is a competitor and doesn’t want to lose, so whenever you step out on the court, you know it’s going to be a good game.”

Despite the efforts of Columbia, the team lost the first place seed to White, 66-52.

Throughout the summer, Crista Ricketts and recent West Chester graduate Dana Weems continuously tallied the majority of points for Columbia and this game was no exception.

Ricketts, who graduated in 2002 from La Salle University, looked as if she poured her water jug on her back in between timeouts.

“It’s a 100 plus degrees in here and when you only have five or six players, you find yourself sweating more,” said Ricketts.

Ricketts along with Weems is very quick inside and drives the basket well with drawing a defensive foul. Both players, however, are exceptional with their cross-court passing. It wasn’t until later in the second half when the white team was able to interfere with their lanes and spread Columbia’s defense thin at the top of the arc.

“It’s good competition,” said Ricketts. “My friends play with me and every year we make it to the playoffs, but I think I am more competitive now. As I become older, I talk more and lead by example more to help the younger kids out.”

For both Ricketts and Tracy, this notable league satisfies their need for competition and growth not just as a basketball player, but also as a strategist, creator, and most importantly, a learner.

Andrea Jones, player and coach for the White team, shares the same appreciation for the league’s competitive nature and laughs about giving more playing time to the younger players.

A graduate from Delaware State, Jones coaches ninth grade high school basketball and AAU teams.

“They need to be running up and down the court,” said Jones. “It doesn’t matter your age, you can come and play basketball here, but this is the best competitive league in the area. You have girls come from all over, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, LaSalle, Drexel, and the list goes on. That is why I make the younger girls play more and make them run up and down the courts. They need to be ready [for school].

Jones suffered cramps at the end of the game, probably due to the heat in the gym, but was very happy for the first place finish and looking forward to Wednesday’s first playoff game.

For 15 years, the players and coaches have seen this league as competition and growth.

For David Kessler, Director of Women’s NCAA Summer Basketball League and Junod Playground, it is no different.

By including not just Division I players, but all NCAA Divisions, Kessler provides an opportunity for whole teams to evolve.

“Holy Family has their whole team in. They didn’t make the playoffs this year, but every winter they wind up winning 25 games,” said Kessler. “It’s the talent level that they really appreciate, because some of them will not encounter this level again when they play in college, and that is for all Divisions.”

Ironically, Kessler doesn’t think of himself as a “basketball man,” but as a “good administrator.”

“I cannot take credit for the talent the league attracts,” said Kessler, “but I do take some pride in the league. I will follow the news about these players and take some pride in someone lighting up the scoreboard all winter. I will say ‘I did that.’ Of course, I didn’t, but it makes for a better story.”

Of course Kessler is a “basketball man” and an even better administrator than he gives himself credit for. Kessler works hard in providing a safe, prime location for these players to come and be challenged, to be competitive, and to learn from the game.

When asked who will win this year’s final game, “I would suspect either these two teams, the Columbia Blue or White. But every time I do that, there is an upset.”

Try if you so dare to find a player, young or old, upset with the league. Maybe they want an air- conditioned gym, but they will never trade in the level of competition and excitement each game brings.

“Everyone is going to keep coming back,” said Harmon. “We have a high number of returnees. I think it’s important for the older girls to keep playing as they graduate to keep the momentum and respect going for the younger players. They can teach them how to play and show what it means to give it their all.”