CYA Basketball: Season Wrap Up
Ryan Tokar, CYA Basketball
the cold weather sets in and snow and ice blanket the ground. But CYA Basketball aims to keep its players active, learning, and having fun, all while improving their skills and advancing their fundamental knowledge of the game. The organization offers a wide range of programs, from skills clinics for our kindergarten through second grade age groups to Rec basketball for grades third through ninth and advanced travel basketball for our middle school students.
This season, we ventured north to Gettysburg, so that our third- through sixth-grade boys’ and girls’ teams could participate in the Gettysburg Youth Basketball League. The competition was fierce, but our teams represented CYA well, with several teams making deep runs into the playoffs. Our younger players enjoyed participating in weekend clinics each Saturday morning at Thurmont Middle School to help them develop their skills while having fun and playing different types of games.
Our middle school and high school players participated in the Mid-Maryland Travel League and Metroball Youth Basketball Rec League. This year, we once again fielded competitive travel teams for both boys and girls at the JV and Varsity level. We also had three boys Rec teams who played against stiff competition from around the county. That didn’t stop our players from working hard to get better. Their progress and development over the course of the season did not go unnoticed by their coaches. Our U16 boys made it to the semifinals of their tournament, where they lost in an extremely close game to FSK.
We held recognition ceremonies for both the girls’ and boys’ eighth graders from our Mid-Maryland programs. As these players who have been in our organization for many years, some as far back as kindergarten, prepare to move on from our program to the next level of high school, we would like to recognize their outstanding efforts and dedication. The Boys Varsity team capped off their special day with two victories over Brunswick and Boonsboro in a home doubleheader. We also used the Girls’ ceremony as an opportunity to recognize the contributions of long-time coach and former CYA Basketball President Dwight Baumgardner. We would like to thank Dwight for his many years of dedicated service!
Speaking of our Mid-Maryland program, we had one team win their division championship this season. The JV Girls, led by Emily Austill, went 9-1 to win the Chesapeake Division. They made a great run in the playoffs, coming up just short in a thrilling game against No. 1 seeded Linganore, 34-32, in the AA Tournament Championship.
Our annual Shoot-a-Thon Fundraiser was an enormous success again this year. We raised nearly $11,000 and collected plenty of non-perishable food for the community. And, finally, our teams participated in CYA Basketball Night at Mount Saint Mary’s University. Players received discounted admission by wearing their CYA jerseys. Everyone was treated to a big Mount victory over St. Peter’s. This is always a well-attended event and a wonderful opportunity for our players to experience Division 1 level college basketball right in our backyard.
All in all, it was another great season of action-packed basketball. Our dedicated coaches and volunteers do an outstanding job, and without them, it would not be possible. Be on the lookout for registration for next season. August will be here before you know it!
Mid-Maryland Girls JV finish as runners-up in the AA Tournament.
Mid-Maryland Boys Varsity recognition ceremony.
