By Brandon Shields
Managing editor
DENMARK – The parking lot at Denmark Elementary School was full Saturday morning.
So was the gym.
Activity was bustling as the third season of Denmark Hoops was in its final weekend.
The end-of-season championship games and tournaments were set to be played on Sunday, and who played when depended a lot on the results of some of Saturday’s games.
That was a big reason for the intensity of the games on Saturday.
The 11-through-13-year-old boys’ league was on display, and some of the younger, smaller guards have spent the season learning how to play or continue to improve against older competition who have already had their growth spurt already.
“There are two main points to this league,” said Tez Ellison, who founded and runs Denmark Hoops. “It’s an opportunity for kids that want to play to be able to play, and that’s not just for the area round Denmark.
“This is for the kids of all over the county.”
In the past year, Jackson-Madison County Schools have capitalized and expanded on what’s begun at Denmark.
Last year, JMCSS started a short elementary basketball league, and the second season is wrapping up again in the next couple weeks.
During a meeting of the JMCSS athletics committee on Tuesday, James “Pete” Johnson, the school board chairman, gave public recognition to Ellison for getting Denmark Hoops off the ground and even starting a program that is getting high school kids involved in officiating games in both elementary leagues.
“Not only that, but the coaches and players from South Side and North Side are coming out and watching games and being present,” Johnson said. “I know that means a lot to the kids to see them there.
“I appreciate how they’re all working together.”
Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news
