SUMMER HOOPS OPTIONS LIMITED
Fergus hoping Dock boys team will be able to host league in August
Summer basketball has taken a bit of a hit this year.
Although Bucks and Montgomery counties moved to the green phase of reopening last week, there are still a number of restrictions in place that have made it difficult for summer hoops leagues to get going. Normally, high school, college, youth and township leagues are in full force during July but that’s not the case in 2020.
Even long-running programs like the Perkasie Summer Basketball League and Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball
League have seen operations put on hold.
Dock Mennonite Academy’s boys basketball summer league is on hold at the moment. Pioneers coach Mike Fergus said while Dock is allowing voluntary team workouts, they aren’t able to scrimmage or play against other schools which means no league games.
Prior to the shutdown, all 12 teams from last summer’s league had pledged to return and Fergus said he had a few other squads that wanted in. For now, he’s hoping to merge what’s left of the summer with the fall league he also started.
“Basically we’re keeping our
fingers crossed and hoping we can have it in the late summer,” Fergus said. “We have a fall league anyway, but I’d like to expand the fall league into the size of the summer league so we’d have a late summer into fall league.”
Fergus is aiming for a middle-to-late August start that would go into the start of the school year.
“It’s a good league and we want to keep it going but I understand,” Fergus said. “We can’t do what we can’t do, so we have to be
patient.”
Usually, the outdoor courts at Perkasie’s Kulp Park on 2nd Street are full of summer league games every night. This year, the court will be empty save for pick-up games or locals going down to hoist up some shots with the Perkasie Borough Parks and Recreation Department deciding to cancel the league this year.
“We understand and share the disappointment of players, coaches and fans who will not be able to participate in this league,” Perkasie Parks and Recreation Director Megan Prusienski said in a press release. “Regrettably, the information and recommendations
presented to us from public health authorities and medical professionals have convinced us that this is the most prudent decision.”
The Department held off its decision as long as possible but felt the high level of contact in basketball made it a higher risk activity. For now, the courts will remain open for public recreational use and the summer league plans to return in 2021.
Running for the last 26 years, the Philadelphia/ Suburban Women’s Basketball League provided local women’s college basketball players an opportunity to get games in during the offseason. League Director David Kessler confirmed
this week the league will not be able to run a season this summer.
In a Facebook message on the league’s page in March, Kessler noted “I’d not only be concerned for all athletes, but also for the three officials on each court, the scorekeepers, spectators and the staff at Kelly Bolish (Gym).”
Kessler said he plans to be back next summer for his 27th year in charge.
Kelly Bolish Gym, the home of the league and the Renegades AAU program, has also had to cancel its summer league. The program’s website www. renegadesbasketball.com is listing sign-ups for its
fall league and the facility is open for hourly rentals with safety guidelines in place.
Local fitness centers including LA Fitness and LifeTime Fitness, are open but not currently allowing pick-up or league basketball play although courts are open for individual use. The YMCA, including locations in Ambler and Willow Grove, has not opened basketball courts for use yet.
Outdoor courts in Hatfield, Upper Dublin and Abington are open for recreational use. Hatfield’s Parks and Recreation website lists courts open with limited capacity with informative signage posted.
Abington is not allowing large groups, teams or organized sports unless organizers require a permit which can only be attained after submitting a written plan of adherence to PA Department of Health and CDC guidelines. Courts in Upper Dublin are open to groups of 25 or less per court.
“Our season ended so abruptly and for me, the best way to move on from any season is turn the page and move on to the next one,” Fergus said. “There’s no team camps either, we usually go to one or two of those every year, so it’s tough on everyone.”