BY LEANN DILBECK –
The Polk County Basketball Association has formed and will now be the governing the association for area youth basketball ages K-6 that had previously been operating under the Mena Optimist Club.
Founding board members, LaShea Holder, Brandon Burford, Sondra Rosson, Shanae Floyd-Baker, and Kenny Miller are eager to see the program develop and give youth the greatest opportunity to develop their athletic abilities and more importantly, have fun.
Team sponsors, goals, coaches and players are all needed and welcomed. A sign-up will be held October 26 in the Hatfield Gym from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Registration forms are available by clicking here
and may be returned to Shelter Insurance in Hatfield or at any Union Bank location. Registration per player is $20 and is $60 maximum per family.
Three additional sponsors are needed for goals. The cost for those is $300. Team sponsorships are $250. All fees will go to the Polk County Basketball Association Minds and Memories Foundation, a recognized 501c3 organization, meaning all fees paid will be tax-deductible.
The board said that an estimated 450 students played in the Optimist basketball in years past and they hope to even exceed that number. They also plan to use sanctioned referees for all games.
They hope to have all teams and coaches in place to have the first draft by Thanksgiving. Then they plan to have a kick-off tournament in mid-December. All games will be played in the Hatfield gym.
The Hatfield gym was donated to the Hatfield Minds and Memories Foundation and the board said they are grateful that it extends to them the venue in which to build a successful and enjoyable basketball association for the area youth.
About Author
Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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