Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots December 7th Edition

By 250 News

Prince George High School Volleyball should learn from PG High School Senior Basketball and implement a city league next year.

Volleyball has finally ended, and the high school basketball league has just started.  In fact, the boys and girls basketball season officially began on Wednesday, and will end with Prince George City Finals on February 13th at UNBC. This basketball league has been well established for many years and includes Senior Boys and Girls teams from PGSS, Kelly Road, Duchess Park, College Heights, and DP Todd and Cedars Christian Senior Boys. In this league, each team plays a full round robin schedule, with games on Wednesdays. At the end of the regular season, the top team in each division receives a bye into the championship match, while the second and third place teams meet in the semi-finals to determine the other berth.

The final game is a significant school event that features many spectators cheering on their favorite team, with the winner receiving a banner. Of course, the champions earn the all important bragging rights of being the city’s top team. In addition, 10 all-star awards (voted on by the coaches) are handed out as the top players in both divisions receive well deserved recognition.

Throughout the season, these participating schools may face each other in tournaments, but when it comes to the zone playoffs, teams like PGSS and Kelly Road compete in the Triple “A” divisions while Duchess, College Heights and DP Todd take part in Double “A”. The Wednesday League provides an opportunity for all city schools to compete against each other under one umbrella.

So, what about volleyball? Why isn’t there a city league for this sport?  I am puzzled as to why volleyball authorities don’t organize a similar event. Duchess Park Senior Boys coach Glenn Wong, who guided his team to a strong 5^th place finish at the Double A provincials despite not having a grade 12 player on his roster says, “The girls have had it in the past and the boys haven’t. I’m returning to Duchess Park and it would be great if we can get together and agree on a city league. I believe we are the only zone without one.” Wong admits that someone needs to take the “bull by the horns” and organize it.

If there had been a city volleyball league this season, there’s a strong chance the PGSS Polars would have come out on top in both divisions, but we’ll never know for sure. The PGSS Senior Boys won their zone, finished 4^th in the province in Quad “A” and had an exceptional year, which I’m sure would have been sweeter had they been declared official city champs.

On the other hand, the PGSS Senior Girls, despite a high ranking all season, settled for second in the Quad “A” zones behind North Peace, and then ended up a disappointing 13^th at the Provincials. The Polars won many Senior Girls tournaments and were clearly the top team in Prince George, yet they don’t have a city banner to show for it.

A city league adds prestige to the sport. It promotes school spirit, and creates a friendly rivalry among local schools. Players in basketball really look forward to the finals, especially the grade 12’s in their final year.

The ball is back in the volleyball court for a coach, an organizer, or a group of interested individuals to formulate plans to follow basketball’s lead and put a city league in place for the seniors. You can bet the student participants will appreciate their efforts. After all, it is about the players.

From the quote rack:

“Remains will be cremated, and then the ashes will be dumped over some coach’s head.”Drew Curtis of Fark.com, on the passing of Gatorade inventor Robert Cade.

“Motorcyle stuntman Evil Knievel died last week at the age of 69. One of the first men in history to try to scatter his ashes by himself.”Comedy writer Janice Hough  (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com) of Palo Alto, California.

“An amusement park with a spy theme is planned for an entertainment complex in Spain. They’re going to call it Bellichickland.”Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

“The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games has picked their mascots with Miga, Quatchi and Sumi just beating out the trio of Hippie, Happy and Hempie.”Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com)

“They’ve even been spotted riding around the city on a bicycle built for one-and-a-quarter.”Seth Meyers, co-host on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, on the rumored relationship between former Tour De France champ Lance Armstrong and Ashley Olsen.

And in case you missed it:

Headline on the front page of the Regina Leader-Post the day after the Roughriders won the Grey Cup:

SaskatcheWIN......

And how was your week?

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com

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