Non-profit syndicate formed 27 • Wednesday, November 21, 2012 to organize youth basketball By Jon Kuiperij player statistics that will be sent to the ABS BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR website. LEAGUE OF At the end of the season, the ABS will hold

THEIR OWN: OAKVILLE BEAVER • www.insideHALTON.com Many of the top youth boys’ basketball a ‘May Madness’ event that will follow a simi- Oakville Venom clubs in southern Ontario no longer have to lar format of the popular NCAA end-of-season bantam player worry about finding an opponent or a place to tournament. Victor Vargatu play. The ABS is featuring three age divisions dribbles the ball The Oakville Venom and 13 other rep bas- and 14 participating organizations in its first during the first ketball associations have joined the Amateur season. The Venom has entered squads in the day of Amateur Basketball Syndicate, a not-for-profit organi- bantam (under-13) and major bantam (U14) Basketball zation that schedules games in a league for- divisions, while the ABS also offers competi- Syndicate compe- mat. Before the formation of the ABS, which tion in major atom (U12). tition recently at tipped off its inaugural season earlier this McKee hopes to accommodate more teams Sheridan College. month at Sheridan College, in the near future. The syndicate was teams were responsible for “It’s amazing how quickly “We have waiting lists in formed this sea- organizing their own exhi- all the organizations got every age group. It was son to help sched- bition and tournament together and implemented really just logistics (that ule games for games that would deter- this. Mid-September was limited the size of the ABS youth rep basket- mine their ranking for the this year),” he said. “One ball squads. end-of-season Ontario really our first discussion person questioned if we’ll Basketball Association about it.” (offer) girls. I’d love to NIKKI WESLEY / championships. (offer) girls. They should OAKVILLE BEAVER / “I always wondered why Amateur Basketball Syndicate have the same benefit as @HALTON_PHOTOG there wasn’t an actual bas- president Dave McKee well. This is a starter year. ketball league,” said Dave We foresee expansion in McKee, founder and presi- girls and age groups and AAA and AA loops.” dent of the ABS. On top of making things easier for team The immediate interest of clubs like managers, McKee said the ABS will also help Scarborough, Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, elite players get more exposure to college and Vaughan, , Hamilton and the university scouts. Three representatives from Venom indicated to McKee that basketball in Canadian schools took in the opening-day Ontario needed a league format. action Nov. 11. “It’s amazing how quickly all the organi- “Now (scouts) know where these kids are zations got together and implemented this. playing, and what teams to watch,” McKee Blades split weekend pair Mid-September was really our first discussion said. “Tournament schedules and times about it,” McKee said. “This got together in change rapidly, depending on results from The split their two Evan Buitenhuis made 28 saves for the 40 days to (the point) where we were schedul- round robins and previous games. You’re Ontario Junior Hockey League games last Blades. ing games.” constantly guessing. This is now struc- weekend to remain tied for first place in the Saturday, Renouf scored two more goals Rather than requiring team managers to tured.” South Division standings. and added an assist. Nathan Renouf, arrange venues, officials and opponents for A call to the Ontario Basketball Association Oakville dropped a 3-2 decision Greg Campbell and Spencer all their games, the ABS schedules weekend offices seeking comment on the ABS was not to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens Green contributed two helpers doubleheaders for teams at centralized loca- returned. Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports each, and Eli Berg, Kris Bennett, tions. The primary location for ABS contests The bantam Venom dropped its first two Complex, then cruised to a 6-1 Matt Alvaro and Chore scored will be Sheridan, a corporate sponsor that is games of the ABS campaign, falling 41-38 to win over the goals. Buitenhuis made 24 stops providing subsidized rental in its gymnasi- Blessed Sacrament Simpson and 66-35 to the the following evening in to record the victory in net. um. Brampton Warriors. Mississauga. Oakville (15-6-3) will only play one Another sponsor has donated iPads to the Oakville’s major bantams lost their first Blades scoring leader Jonah Renouf game this weekend, a home contest Friday league. Coaches and managers will be able to contest 51-46 to Scarborough before down- scored two third-period goals, both assisted against the . That game use the iPads’ HoopStats application to track ing Toronto Triple Threat 62-43. by Patrick Chore, in the loss to Toronto. will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Sixteen Mile. NO NHL… NO PROBLEM! CANADIANTIRE JUMPSTART NIGHT OAKVILLE BLADES VS. GEORGETOWN RAIDERS PUCK DROP 7:30 PM AT SIXTEEN MILE SPORTS COMPLEX FRIDAY NIGHT CANADIAN TIRE PUCK TOSS WITH A CHANCE TO WIN $100 GIFT CARD ALL PROCEEDS FROM PUCK TOSS TO BE DONATED TO CANADIAN TIRE JUMPSTART PROGRAM ADULTS $5, STUDENTS/SENIORS $2, KIDS FREE ANY MOHA/HORNET PLAYERS FREE, ALL MOHA/HORNETS COACHING STAFFS FREE, OAKVILLE BLADES ALUMNI FREE