Girl's hoops league hits Three Rivers College

After area boys basketball hit the Libla Family Sports Complex on Monday for their summer league tournament, the girls had their chance on Tuesday as teams hit the court for the second week in the inaugural tournament.

With five weeks total, Three Rivers College women’s basketball coach Alex Wiggs said they’ve had team camps at TRC before but never an undertaking like they are doing currently with as many as 24 teams competing for just one week or all five.

“I think it’s great,” Wiggs said. “You’re bringing in 23-24 teams a week and it’s not over a two or three day thing. This is once a week they’re coming in. They’re spending from 1-2 in the afternoon to 7-8 p.m. here in Poplar Bluff. I think that’s a big thing for not only Three Rivers College and getting them on campus, seeing our amazing facilities but also to Poplar Bluff and supporting the local businesses and community.”

The tournament consists of varsity, junior varsity and junior high teams with one squad traveling from as far as Paragould, Arkansas.

Doniphan, Twin Rivers, Clearwater and Dexter are among several area teams competing in the first-year tournament.

Former Poplar Bluff standout and recent Indiana State transfer Kiley Bess was on hand to do whatever she could to assist on Tuesday.

“I just love girls, women getting in the gym and loving basketball as much as I do,” she said. “Anyway I can help out. Referee, keep the clock, I love to stay involved. I think it also opens my eyes to coaching in the future. I just love staying involved with my community.”

Wiggs said it was great having older players help out because it lets them see a different side to the game.

“I think the biggest thing for them to get out of it is harder to officiate than they realize,” he said. “It’s a little harder than what you think it is. I kind of enjoy having them officiate and having them here because it allows them to sit back and understand officiating is a little harder, maybe they need to be a little nicer to officials, especially when coaches or fans get on them.”

He said it also is important for the athletes on the girl to see people that they look up to doing the same thing they love.

“They do a great job of being able to talk to the players and the players look up to them and understand because that’s where most of these players want to be is at the college level and the next level,” he said.

Wiggs said the Raiders will also have a one-day came for elementary-aged athletes on July 5. K-2nd (9-10 a.m.), 3rd-5th (10-11:30 a.m.) and 6th-8th grade (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) will have the chance to participate. Cost is $30 per athlete, which includes a T-shirt.