As the Cayman Islands prepares for a summer youth basketball tournament, facilities have re-emerged as an issue.
The Caribbean Basketball Confederation is set to stage an Under-16 Championship for both boys and girls in August, and an Under-14 competition is also planned for this summer. Venues are yet to be decided, and as confederation executive committee member and technical director for Cayman basketball Victor “Voot” O’Garro says, Cayman’s hard courts are not an option.
“For the first time, the CBC is planning an Under-14 Caribbean tournament,” O’Garro said. “The lowest age group CBC has had up to now was Under-16. Being one of the countries with an Under-14 tournament, Cayman is going to be taking part. CBC is asking all small countries to do their part and host a tournament. Cayman is one of those being asked to do so, but we don’t have the facilities.”
Since Cayman’s original home for basketball – the Lions Center – was ravaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, a number of local venues have been used over the years. Current sites such as Camana Bay’s Arts and Recreation Center and the University College of the Cayman Islands multipurpose hall charge a rental fee to the Cayman Islands Basketball Association, which ultimately gets passed on to teams and spectators. The association has an outdoor court off Eastern Avenue, but the court surface and impact of weather conditions make for a less-than-ideal setting.
O’Garro said the Camana Bay court is particularly tricky for international events due to its layout.
“Camana Bay is one of our best facilities, but it’s not properly marked. We’ve spoken to Camana Bay, but we’re not allowed to remark the court. We can’t mark it, so hosting a tournament there now is out of the question.”
From a talent standpoint, Cayman could be formidable in the aforementioned age groups. The recent KPMG Inter-School Under-14 Basketball League highlighted a trio of male talents, as Justin Collins, Bryce Thompson and Ted Padua excelled in the finals.
O’Garro noted that league highlights the need to foster more players across the island.
“There were other good players that didn’t make it to the finals, and it shows positive development in the sport,” he said. “Finalist Clifton Hunter High School did not have enough resources to bring another team, and I think that shows the resources in George Town are stronger. We need to focus on basketball growth in the Eastern districts.”
In spite of the drawbacks of hosting regional events, the Camana Bay venue is staging most of the ongoing competitions. The Women’s Triangular Series and Digicel National Men’s League both take place there, with matches going on this week. The ladies are in action Thursday at 6:15 p.m. as Kacie Ramos and the defending champion Welly’s Cool Spot face Domino’s Lady Heels. On the men’s side, division two continues on Thursday as the NEC Titans battle Smoothie King at 7:30 p.m.
Week four of division one is on March 9 as Eckerd McField and George Town Sports Club face Peter Grant and the Silver Bullets at 4 p.m., Kenval Bryan and the Domino’s Warriors challenge Jasen Campbell and the Sol Blazers at 5:30 p.m., and Borislav Djordjic and the Caledonian Lions tackle David Taylor and the Wendy’s Tarheels at 7 p.m.
The ability to host international tournaments ultimately hinges on government completing the auditorium at the John Gray High School campus. John Gray is one of two new high schools being built by government, with their completion projected to cost more than $200 million. Clifton Hunter opened in September 2012, while the new John Gray High School remains unfinished. Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden has not offered a time line for the auditorium’s completion, saying only that government will complete the project and continue to support basketball going forward.
O’Garro remains convinced the auditorium is key to the sport’s future.
“We need the blessing of government for the John Gray court and then we can host something there. We need a home and that is key to the progress of basketball in this country. Once it’s done, basketball can go to the next level. We just have to hope government can find the resources to finish the court.”
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