MAYB deemed successful at Hillsboro
Staff writer
The Mid-America Youth Basketball Summer Kickoff from Newton is in its 11th year and has been deemed successful again by its founder, area host directors, team members, and patrons alike. Marion County hosted the 9th-10th grade teams June 11-13 for the summer kickoff.
Approximately 800 teams competed in the summer kickoff tournament that covered several counties around the Newton area.
Most of the teams came from towns in Kansas, but teams also came from other states including Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, South Dakota, Arkansas, Nebraska, Indiana, Wyoming, Colorado, Ohio, Louisiana, and Virginia.
MAYB founder Greg Raleigh estimated 20,000 people were in the surrounding areas including players, coaches, parents, and spectators.
"We had another good year," Raleigh said. "This was the smoothest year we've had in the 11 years we've been doing the tournament."
Raleigh also reported there were 400 officials and 100 supervisors and gate workers at the tournament.
"We received compliments about our officials, so that was good — more compliments than complaints," he said, jokingly.
According to Hillsboro director Steve Berg, the 9th-10th grade division is probably the largest in the tournament sporting 104 teams. An estimated 2,000 or more people were in Hillsboro for the tournament this past weekend.
"It's good to see an event like that come to Hillsboro," Berg said. "It is definitely an economic boost to our community."
Berg feels everyone benefits when Hillsboro sponsors a tournament of this magnitude — from the lodging of the motel and Tabor College dorms to the various eating establishments.
Six courts were open in Hillsboro with teams playing every hour, which Berg feels was a plus for Hillsboro.
"People were quite surprised by the facilities we have here," Berg said, "and made very favorable comments."
Raleigh stated, "As small a town as Hillsboro is, it has a large number of basketball courts which is good for us."
As far as the future, Berg feels Hillsboro will play host to the 9th-10th grade division next year.
"Hillsboro makes a good site for that division because of our facilities."
