New Youth Basketball League Debut in Cape Girardeau

PRESS RELEASE

Semo Rainmakers Basketball Foundation

Presents the debut of new youth league (K-2) in the area

December 15, 2015- (Cape Girardeau, MO) - Semo Rainmakers Basketball Foundation (SRBF) was founded by Thomas D. White in 2013. The foundation was originally established to provide adolescent boys an opportunity to receive foundational and fundamental teaching for the game of basketball. The first two years SRBF featured only traveling teams that were made up from boys in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

In the fall of 2015 it was announced that Upward Sports, which had served this area many years would no longer be available for the youth to participate. Although there were other outlets for youth 2nd grade and older to still play in the area, this left a void for all kindergarteners and 1st graders. Thomas White, the founder of SRBF was planning to enroll his 5 year old daughter in Upward Sports basketball program this fall. After learning the league wasn't available he was inspired to expand SRBF to create a youth league for the area. It took quick planning as he only learned of this announcement by Upward Sports in late September 2015. With the help of his wife, Zsavonda White, the two of them took on the daunting task of establishing this youth league.

Thomas White explained, "Finding available gym space for practices and games was probably the most difficult part of the process. Finding players was the easy part because there were no other leagues accepting kids as young as the ones we wanted". Cape Bible Chapel and Bethel Assembly of God Church, both in Cape Girardeau, stepped up as willing partners to collaborate with the league after many refused or failed to respond to the new youth league. The league registered about 95 players (boys and girls) in grades K-2 and will feature 12 teams in this first year. The league has plans to expand next year to open more opportunities for youth K-6 boys and girls. When asked what will make this league different than other area youth leagues, White simply stated, "Teaching fundamentals and expressing what it really means to play basketball. We want parents to get their money's worth when they register their child for our league".

The first week of games will begin at 9:00am on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Cape Bible Chapel, 2911 Kage Rd., Cape Girardeau, MO. Games are played every Saturday beginning January 9th and ending February 27. To find out more details about this league or other Semo Rainmakers programs please visit the official website at www.semorainmakers.com or email Thomas White at semorainmakers@gmail.com.