BY JOSHUA BALL
FOR THE MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
BJ Endicott’s shirt says “Family” on the front with the “m” symbolic of a Wildcat claw.
It’s more than just a word for Eden Elementary’s girls’ basketball coach.
It’s everything, and it shows.
Following Saturday’s 28-12 win over Inez to claim the Eastern Kentucky Elementary Basketball Conference A-Team Championship, I was reminded about the transcending power of athletics in its purest of forms.
I asked Endicott if I could speak with Alivia Stacy. Stacy, a sixth-grader, scored a game-high 15 points, including a three-pointer in the fourth quarter. I introduced myself to Stacy, jokingly asking if she had ever been interviewed.
She responded, “No,” but the reality was she was a pro, and I had one of those encounters as a writer that hardly ever happens.
It was pure and honest… It was also why I — and you — should love sports. It wasn’t about winning a championship or scoring a bunch of points. It wasn’t about hitting her first-ever three-pointer in a game. It was about family, being a part of something greater than herself, and the team.
“We couldn’t do it without Coach (BJ Endicott),” she said. Her smile from ear to ear turned to tears and she hugged Coach Endicott. Alivia went on to talk about her teammates and how much she loves the game of basketball and her basketball family.
That hit home. And it brought perspective.
While most of the limelight is on… well, the limelight of championships, college scholarships, and going pro, what is missing in the hustle and bustle of social media and fame are the relationships that are cultivated and the lessons learned through basketball as a tool.
Thanks for reminding me of that, Alivia.
MORE PERSPECTIVE: For more than 25 years I have been a sportswriter in some capacity. When I first started writing games, I covered grade schools, toting my camera and notepad to Warfield, Pigeon Roost, Inez, Grassy, and Tomahawk.
That experience opened so many doors for me, personally and professionally.
It brought me home, in a way, on Saturday.
I ran into so many friends.
It also brought back so many memories… and reminded me, I’m not getting any younger.
When I shared I would be writing the games on Saturday, one of the first messages I got was from Brady Horn. I covered Brady as a middle school player at Warfield Middle School and later at Sheldon Clark High School.
This was special because Brady played for the late Ronnie Smith at Warfield Middle School. When I worked just up the river at the Williamson Daily News, I would travel to Warfield a few times a year to do a game. I always tried to cover the Warfield and Lenore games, pitting Smith against Pedro Ledger.
Brady’s daughter, Braylee, plays for Eden.
It was great catching up. And I stopped and bought an Ensure on the way home, as these games remind me I’m not getting any younger.
WOAH WILDCAT: Eden brought its mascot to Saturday’s championship game. That deserves props. Like an infomercial… But wait, there’s more. During a timeout in the first half, the mascot was very MC Hammer-ish when “Can’t Touch This” played.
Nice, but I wonder how many of the players knew who MC Hammer was. And I did see a few parents tapping their feet. I won’t name any names.
THIS MAKES SENSE: As the number of schools shrinks across the mountains, it has been difficult for elementary school teams to play enough games to further develop the fundamentals of their players.
I’m happy to see conferences like the Eastern Kentucky Elementary Basketball Conference take shape and grow.
In its second year, the conference added teams from Magoffin County to form a 10-team league scattered across Lawrence and Martin counties and Paintsville Independent. Allowing for young players to compete against schools across the region is important. It’s important as they develop as players and competition is good for everyone.
As these players move to middle school and high school, I certainly hope we’ll see strong and competitive fields in the 15th Region and teams that compete for a Sweet 16 Championship. Those dreams start here… in small gyms on cold Saturday mornings.
AND, FINALLY: Thank you. While I don’t live in Martin County, it is home. And the Mountain Citizen played an instrumental role in opening the doors that led to (what I thought would be) a career in sportswriting.
The good lord had other plans (boy, did he), and I have been blessed beyond measure with a career that allowed me to serve and see and experience things that I never imagined as a child growing up on Wolf Creek Road.
Up until a few years back, I would write a handful of high school games for the Ashland Daily Independent, and I still pinch-hit on rare occasions. The idea of writing elementary school tournament games came to me as I reflected upon some of my very first assignments as a writer. They were going to Inez, Warfield, Grassy, Tomahawk and Pigeon Roost.
At that time, I aspired to hit the big time. My time as a full-time writer brought many accolades, my work being published across the globe, and countless friendships. But I didn’t hit the big time as a writer until I decided to do this.
I’ve had more fun doing this, and it is a reminder that what you are looking for might not be sought in bright lights and big cities. It might be just right here… at home.
Until next time… See ya at the games…