Hoops mania

Mike Sciacca

Not even a smattering of rain drops Saturday morning could dampen the

enthusiasm surrounding the grand opening of new basketball courts at

Murdy Community Center.

Instruction and games dominated the day as 260 youngsters

participated in an event that celebrated a new era in youth

basketball at the center.

The park’s original basketball courts had been there since the

recreation center building opened in the early 1970s, said park recreational supervisor Chris Slama said.

“It was a very smooth day, although I was a little bit nervous

when those raindrops fell,” Slama said. “The kids really had a great

time throughout the day.

“The plans to build these courts have been in place for a few

years, but we finally received the grant money for the project to go

ahead.”

City officials used $1 million from a 2000 bond, the Safe

Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Costal Protection Act,

for improvements to the center.

The money was used for the four new basketball courts, new

restrooms, landscaping and lights with timers.

The site of the four original basketball courts was turned into

parking spaces.

The day began at 9 a.m., with a basketball clinic for first- and

second-grade students. Eight games featuring teams from the

Huntington Beach Youth Basketball Program were played over the next

two hours, and the event concluded with a basketball program for

children with special needs called “Shooting Stars.”

“I had a lot of fun,” said 9-year-old Bethany Treskes, who plays

for the Shooting Stars of girls’ Division C.

The Shooting Stars won their game Saturday, and coach Mike

Shilltio handed out roses to his players in honor of Valentine’s Day,

Bethany said.

“I like the new courts because our hands didn’t get as dirty and

we didn’t slip on the court, like we were on the old court,” Bethany

said. “I’m going to like playing on those courts.”

The 260 basketball participants each received a bag of candy

bearing a tag that read, “I Got To Play On Opening Day,” as a memento

to the occasion.

“It was just a great day all around,” Slama said. “I remember

playing my first basketball games on the original courts here, and I

hope that these kids remember playing the first games here on these

new courts.”