SPORTS WRAP
STORY & PHOTOS BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
The Orange Recreation Department (ORD), in collaboration with the Orange Board of Education, held the annual Elementary League Basketball Championship at the Jessie Miles Gymnasium in Orange High School. Anthony Vauss, Jr., Sports Coordinator of the Orange Recreation Department, and Commissioner Shawneque Johnson welcomed everyone to the event.
In the first game of the day, the ORD 8th grade traveling basketball team played the Orange High School freshman basketball team. This was an all-star game which featured a brief halftime show from the OHS Marching Tornadoes.
In the championship games themselves, Heywood Avenue defeated Forest Street 10-8 in the 4th and 5th grade division. Sebastian Drice was selected as the MVP of the game. As for the 6th and 7th grade division, Heywood defeated Oakwood 22-20 on a winning basket by MVP Latrell Grasqow. Coaches and players were presented awards for their hard work and dedication during the regular season, which started back in February with regular season games played at Lincoln Avenue School.
There was also a cheerleading competition, where 1st place went to Heywood Avenue School, in 2nd place was Oakwood Avenue, 3rd place went to Lincoln Avenue, and 4th place went to Forest Street School. The coordinator of the cheerleading competition was Stacey Martin.
Also, there was a surprise community award presented to long time Orange resident and basketball coordinator Terry Boyd.
Other activities that took place were a 4th and 5th grade 3 pointer and free throw shootout.
