Rec Sports

Three Takeaways from Gameday 5

MANISA (Türkiye) – Igokea m:tel picked up their first win of the tournament and ended the tournament in eleventh place after overcoming the hosts, Manisa BBSK 78-60, and Galatasaray secured ninth place with a 79-70 win over ERA Nymburk. Then came the Semi-Finals. Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg took on Filou Oostende in the first one, with […]

Published

1 month ago

April 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Then came the Semi-Finals.

Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg took on Filou Oostende in the first one, with Oostende reaching the Final for the first time after pulling away in the fourth quarter and claiming an 80-73 win.

The second Semi-Final was a less competitive affair.

The champions Rytas Vilnius showed everyone watching in Manisa that they have another level and it was a level that Tofas Bursa couldn’t live with. Rytas romped to a 126-59 win.

Let’s have a look at the key takeaways from the penultimate day of the 2025 YBCL.

#1 PRIDE IS SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR

The former champs Igokea were clearly determined to bow out on a win and reset the score somewhat ahead of coming back stronger next year.

They shot 52 percent overall on 24 assists against the hosts Manisa, who will have learned a great deal about the levels they will need to strive for next time around.

Nikola Masal led Igokea with 16 points and 5 assists on 70 percent shooting. Shoutout also goes to 15-year-old Marko Grubesic, who is the second-youngest scorer at the YBCL and finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds from the guard position. Remember the name, folks!

Last year’s silver-medalists Galatasaray also played like they had something to prove after a frustrating YBCL tournament this time around.

Batu Anlar and Alperen Duruksu had 27 and 23 points respectively, with Duruksu also pulling down 13 rebounds for his double-double.

An honorable mention has to go out to ERA Numburk’s twin towers here, Thomas Stanko and Krystof Davidek. Stanko checks out as the tournament’s leading scorer with 24.3 points and Davidek as the efficiency rating leader with 33.3 per game.

Both have had two excellent YBCL campaigns over the last two years and we hope to see both in the senior BCL soon.

#2 NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A SMALL GROUP OF COMMITTED PEOPLE

Ludwigsburg and Oostende served up one of the best YBCL Semi-Finals ever. There were 11 lead changes and Oostende’s largest lead of 12 only came late in the fourth.

For 35 minutes of this game the outcome was impossible to call.

Ludwigsburg came into it without their two 2009-born stars Yohann Tchouaffe and Kenan Youdom for personal reasons, but managed to make it look like they could still get the job done without them.

An Armin Pivac bucket game them a 42-36 lead with three minutes to play in the second quarter and were very much in the ascendancy.

Oostende’s comeback from there was strong and after a timeout with 40 seconds to go in the half, Julian Dewinter completed their comeback with a gutsy putback to cap off an 8-2 run and put Oostende up 45-44 at the half.

Ludwigsburg did score first in the third quarter, but Oostende’s tight-knit group took control of the game from there.

Vince T’Joncke and Daan Pieters in particular had huge games. Point guard T’Joncke again flirted with a triple double with 16 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds, whilst Pieters further solidified his MVP case with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists on 71 percent shooting.

Ludwigsburg will be looking for a medal in the third-placed game and can still end their best-ever YBCL tournament on a high.

2008-born guard Lars Danziger had a near triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. We have a feeling he will be one to watch next year.

#3 EVEN THE BEST CAN SURPRISE YOU

What can we say here about Rytas Vilnius?

We thought they were going to get their toughest challenge yet in the second Semi-Final against Tofas and when Riza Pasaoglu threw down a dunk to put Tofas Bursa up 6-3, the Tofas bench reacted like they felt they were going to run the champions close as well.

The wolves of Rytas took that moment as their opportunity to show their teeth. In particular, last season’s MVP Ignas Urbonas seemed to take it personally and clicked into a sixth gear that we haven’t seen from another player in the YBCL… possibly ever.

The combination of physical domination, basketball maturity, and skill provide the perfect illustration of the difference between a player who predominantly plays men’s basketball these days.

Urbonas ended the game with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 22 minutes.

He was supported again by Gabrielius Bubnys who had 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, but it wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that any member of Rytas’ squad could have ended the game with double-digit scoring, such was their dominance.

As it was, every player scored in the game and the lead was as much as 67 at one point.

Can Oostende stop them in the Final? Stranger things have happened but after this performance, the champions look set to back to back and become the first two-time winners of the YBCL.

For Tofas, this will be one to forget ahead of the third-place game as they continue their bid to make the podium every year of the YBCL.

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Rec Sports

Local ballers bring the heat to Laurel in new charity tournament

Aldrich Sports League and NoFo Kid Connect brought the best of the best to Laurel Saturday.(Credit: Daniel Franc) The Aldrich basketball courts in Laurel were full of quick passes, pivots and picks-and-rolls in the inaugural Community Kids Basketball Tournament Saturday. In a collab between the Aldrich Sports League of Mattituck and NoFo Kid Connect of […]

Published

11 minutes ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Three men play basketball, one with an amputated foot using a prosthetic foot. — Aldrich Sports League and NoFo Kid Connect brought the best of the best to Laurel Saturday.(Credit: Daniel Franc)

The Aldrich basketball courts in Laurel were full of quick passes, pivots and picks-and-rolls in the inaugural Community Kids Basketball Tournament Saturday. In a collab between the Aldrich Sports League of Mattituck and NoFo Kid Connect of Greenport, four teams chock full of local basketball talent with community kids mixed in went head-to-head. Each game was exciting, with rapid lead changes and a few of the decisions coming down to the buzzer.

Four teams: The First Responders, Chef Currys, Faculty Flames and Community All-Stars battled it out to win the championship. (Credit: Angela Colangelo)

The concept for the community tournament and fundraiser came from Joe Aiello and Francis Buonaiuto of Aldrich Sports League. They said they wanted to jump start their third season of the 5 vs. 5 soccer league and other tournaments with a fundraiser.

Destiny Salter of NoFo Kid Connect said the two contacted her organization because of their successful Cops Vs. Kids basketball game in January and their Greenport Summer Basketball Tournament — this year’s happening July 26. The proceeds, still being counted at press time, are destined for North Fork community youth sports and scholarships for graduates involved with athletics.

Photos by Daniel Franc

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Aldrich Sports League and NoFo Kid Connect brought the best of the best to Laurel Saturday.(Credit: Daniel Franc)

Beyond the captivating action of the basketball tournament, the day included family fun like a dunk tank and half-time show, burgers and dogs cooked to order, raffles and a host of goodies available from Black Sheep Bagels in Jamesport.

Both organizations considered the Community Kids Basketball Tournament a success and plan to build it into an annual event moving forward. They each have lots going on this year with Aldrich Sports League’s King of the Campo and King of the Court soccer and basketball tournaments happening in Laurel and NoFo Kid Connect’s youth basketball clinics happening in Greenport.

Congratulations to the champions, the First Responders. Put it way down here so as not to spoil it. (Credit: Angela Colangelo)

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Rec Sports

Saturday is Kids Fishing Day at Pocket Park | News, Sports, Jobs

Saturday is Kids Fishing Day at DNR Pocket Park — marking the 32nd anniversary of the annual Kids Fishing Day this year. The day of fun, fishing and families will be held Saturday, June 7 at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park, located on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba. Registratioan for […]

Published

34 minutes ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Saturday is Kids Fishing Day at DNR Pocket Park — marking the 32nd anniversary of the annual Kids Fishing Day this year.

The day of fun, fishing and families will be held Saturday, June 7 at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park, located on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba.

Registratioan for Kids Fishing Day will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. EDT and the event will run until 3 p.m. All activities are free of charge and open to youth ages 16 years old and younger.

“We are excited to again hold our fishing event at the Pocket Park,” said Brenda Madden, longtime Kids Fishing Day team member and organizer. “It offers plenty of space for most all the traditional fun favorites at Kids Fishing Day events, plus some new activities; and the Pocket Park offers a beautiful natural-like setting right in the middle of Escanaba.”

Familiar activities returning include bluegill fishing, minnow races and face painting, along with free food and raffle prizes.

Greg Karch certified angler instructor and founder of the non-profit organization Learn 2 Fish With Us, will be returning to the event this year to teach kids how to cast a fishing line and tie fishing knots.

Karch’s organization has educated more than 50,000 anglers in Wisconsin since 2006 and has hosted nearly 300 fishing workshops, including Kids Fishing Day at Camp 7 where he offered Backyard Bass for youngsters.

In addition, Smokey Bear will be wandering the grounds and the DNR will have a scavenger hunt and opportunities for kids to learn how to shoot at the Pocket Park’s archery and pellet gun ranges.

This year’s Kids Fishing Day event will be held in conjunction with the DNR’s free fishing weekend. Camping is available on the fairgrounds. Contact the Delta County Chamber of Commerce.

The DNR Pocket Park is located nearest Gate No. 1 at the fairgrounds, which can be accessed from 12th Avenue North.

Partners include the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sports Fishermen, Inc., Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the USDA Forest Service.

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer to help at the event, please contact Brenda at 906-286-1348.

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Rec Sports

Making Youth Sports Travel a Win for the Whole Family

Published

52 minutes ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The roar of the crowd, the thrill of competition, the camaraderie among teammates – youth sports offer invaluable experiences for kids. But for the families who cheer them on from the sidelines, the reality often involves a whirlwind of travel, early mornings, and logistical puzzles. From baseball diamonds in the spring to cheer competitions in the winter, the year-round nature of youth sports means families are frequently on the road. IHG Hotels & Resorts aims to be a valuable teammate for traveling sports families, offering a diverse portfolio of hotel options and price points designed to make youth sports travel a breeze.

Conveniently located across the U.S. and Canada, IHG’s brands are tailored to accommodate the unique needs of teams and their biggest fans. Here are some winning tips for families hitting the road for youth sports:

Fuel Up for Success:

Embrace the Free Breakfast: Kids Eat Free at Holiday Inn and the entire family can enjoy complimentary hot breakfasts offered at Holiday Inn Express, Garner and Atwell Suites. This not only saves money but also precious time, ensuring everyone starts their busy game day with a nutritious meal. With options ranging from hearty scrambled eggs to lighter choices like fresh fruit and yogurt, there’s something to please even the pickiest eaters.

Make Space and Save Time:

Consider a Suite Life: For longer tournaments or when traveling with multiple siblings, apartment-style accommodations like Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites can be a game-changer. Separate living areas provide much-needed space to relax after a long day, while fully equipped kitchens offer the flexibility to prepare some of your own meals and snacks, saving money and catering to dietary needs. The free onsite laundry facilities are a lifesaver for those inevitable muddy uniforms and spilled drinks.

Prioritize Rest and Recovery:

Sleep Like a Champion: A good night’s sleep is crucial for both athletes and their cheering squad. Hotels like avid prioritize sound sleep with high-quality mattresses and bedding, a choice of firm and soft pillows, blackout roller shades, and thoughtful design to minimize noise disruption. Ensuring everyone is well-rested can make a significant difference in energy levels and overall enjoyment.

Smart Spending and Future Adventures:

Leverage Loyalty Programs: Make your travel dollars work harder for you by booking with IHG One Rewards. Earn points with each stay that can be redeemed for future family getaways, turning those sports trips into opportunities for well-deserved vacations.
Stay Longer, Save More: For those extended tournament weekends, look for deals like IHG’s offer to save up to 15% on stays of three or more nights. These savings can help offset the costs associated with travel.

By choosing accommodations that cater to the unique needs of families and implementing smart travel strategies, you can transform the experience from a logistical challenge into a memorable adventure for the whole team – both on and off the field. So pack your bags, prepare to cheer, and remember that with a little planning, you can conquer the sidelines and make every tournament a win.

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6/3/25: Chubby Mermaids – NowKalamazoo

Things to do in Kalamazoo Sponsored by Check out events by category: Kalamazoo Farmers Market – Kalamazoo Farmers Market6/3, 8:00 AM Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep: Sheer Genius! Exhibit – Kalamazoo Valley Museum6/3, 10:00 AM Edison Blossoms – Edison Neighborhood Association6/3, 11:00 AM Bridge Club – Richland Community Library6/3, 12:00 PM Craft Stitching Group […]

Published

6 hours ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Things to do in Kalamazoo

Rec Sports

Annika Sorenstam’s sports mom advice for navigating youth sports

Cooper Flagg’s mom shares her best tips for parents navigating youth sports Mackenzie Salmon sat down with Cooper Flagg’s mom Kelly to talk about how she successfully navigated the world of youth sports. Sports Seriously Have you been this kid? “I wouldn’t raise my hand in class to answer a question in case I would […]

Published

6 hours ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Have you been this kid?

“I wouldn’t raise my hand in class to answer a question in case I would say the wrong thing,” Annika Sorenstam says. “I was always afraid that my classmates would laugh at me.”

She would even miss on purpose – maybe hit a three-putt, maybe leave the ball at the bunker – coming down the stretch at junior golf tournaments so she wouldn’t have to speak in front of a crowd.

“They wanted the winner to give remarks of some kind, even at early ages,” she tells USA TODAY Sports, “just to kind of teach you more than the game itself, and I remember just being so afraid of it. I could finish second or third and still get a prize.

“But you can imagine that would haunt me because I practiced a lot and I’m very competitive and got home knowing that I could have won it.”

Sorenstam, who would go on to win 10 major tournaments, 72 events on the LPGA Tour and make hundreds of post-round comments, says shyness has always been her weakness. But today it’s a smaller hurdle she can clear because of lessons she learned from her parents and from sports that she has continued to apply.

She’s now a mom of two teenagers (Ava, 15, and Will, 14) trying like us to distinguish their individual traits, and to give them room to grown into them, like she did.

“I always tell people, ‘Get back to me in 10 years,’ ” she says. “I’ll let you know if it worked.”

Sorenstam, 54, has been instructing for 18 years through her ANNIKA foundation, which empowers and advances the cause of young women in golf and life. This spring and summer, she is running clinics for Bank of America’s “Golf with Us” program to help give more boys and girls access to experiences similar to what she had.

She doesn’t formally coach Will, her rising junior golfer, though.

“I’ve learned you don’t want to be a helicopter parent,” she says. “You’re so invested and you’re so engaged and you’re so caring. We all love them so much and we just want them to succeed, and then it’s just, how do you handle it?”

Here’s her advice for parents and their athletes to help us all figure out golf, sports and overcoming our fears.

Foster independence through enjoyment of sport

Sorenstam’s mother, Gunilla, would swing a golf club when she was pregnant with her. She jokes with her daughter about how the action propelled her into her future.

Sorenstam describes her development as more of “one of those slow loves.” Slow, indeed.

She grew up near Stockholm, Sweden, where she could whisk down ski slopes. Tennis, which she played for eight years, was her first love, not golf.

“I really didn’t like it in the beginning,” she says. “It was for older people and I wanted to chase a ball.”

Gunilla and her father, Tom, weren’t experts as much as facilitators for Sorenstam and her sister, Charlotta, who would also play on the LPGA Tour. The freedom to choose their favorite sport sparked curiosity.

“It was just giving us the resources,” Annika says. “Driving us to the golf course or driving us to the tennis tournaments, providing the stuff that we needed. Not like a coach or anything; it was more they’re loving parents and not very pushy and just kind of help us and guide us through the steps. And I think that worked quite well.

“I disappointed them in my own way, but not through the score. And I always felt like they had my back. And on the contrary, I wanted them to be pleased and happy with what I was doing.”

She reflects today with a knowing chuckle about how right it felt: the way the support built her up inside and helped her along her teenage journey.

A seminal moment came when she was 16, and she had found her sport. “I want to play golf,” she told her parents.

“I don’t think I really knew where the golf would take me,” she says. “It was more just kind of a hobby. I enjoyed playing. And then I got a little better. And then I played some tournaments. And then one thing kind of led to another.”

‘Go with the flow’: Instead of having expectations for your kid athletes, be willing to adapt and change as they do

It’s a process she started over again when her kids were very young and they traveled with her to golf events.

“They probably thought that was work,” Sorenstam says, “and that’s not what they wanted to do.”

These can be delicate times with our kids and their sports. We can teach lessons on grip, ball position and aim by sprinkling them in while playing with friends (“It’s very convincing when friends play a certain sport,” she says) or having putting competitions.

“I am a big believer in understanding the fundamentals of the sport early on,” Sorenstam says, “and then just let them learn and let them test.”

We don’t always have to emphasize drilling. We can take breaks, she says, to stack golf balls into pyramids or stress the concepts of the sport with a soccer ball.

“Introduce them to the game so it doesn’t become so focused on golf and having to do everything perfectly,” she says. “I think that’s when you lose your kid early, because it’s all this structure. There’s a fine line of having structure. There’s a fine line of having etiquette. And I think you have to find that balance.

“When your kid leaves the golf course or the driving range you want them to have a smile on their face. Then I think you’ve been successful.”

Over the years, we have seen Will’s eyes drawn to not only Tiger and Charlie Woods but to his mom as they play the course at the PNC Championship together.

“Slow down, Mommy,” he said in 2023 as they walked down the 18th fairway in Orlando, Florida. “I don’t want this moment to end.”

Will and his sister tried just about every other sport Sorenstam and husband Mike McGee played – “I was the mean mom; I didn’t give him a chance to play football,” Annika says – before Ava made the varsity softball team and he settled on golf. It’s all he wants to do.

Sorenstam has explained how she loves watching him become more of a feel player than her as he experiments with his shots. She sees a natural separation from us that comes with development.

“We practice a lot together,” Sorenstam says, “but he’s also kind of a student of the game, so about a year ago, I said, ‘I think you need to find a real coach’ and he was like, ‘Well, I want to work with you.’ I said, ‘That’s fine, but then you have to listen.’ That didn’t really work out very well so he’s working with somebody.

“It’s good to get a different perspective. I love to attend some of his lessons and learn so that when we do play, I can be of help a little bit, because I know what they’re working on. … I know a little golf and sometimes he wants to talk about it and I feel like I can add some value, and sometimes I’m just his mom and let him do his thing.

“You just gotta go with the flow. He asks a lot of questions, not so much technique with me maybe, but just (about) traveling and what was your greatest shot, your most important memory. I love to have that discussion.”

Coach Steve: When is it time to stop coaching your child in sports? Ask yourself these 3 questions

‘Feel the temperature’: Put your kids in situations to succeed, fail and express themselves

Golf was hard, but Sorenstam dove into the challenge to figure it out. It was like finding a missing piece of the puzzle that formed her identity.

Playing it was fun, but then it became terrifying.

Tom and Gunilla started to see a pattern in Annika’s near-misses at tournaments. They called ahead to an upcoming one. When it was complete, Annika was asked to say something.

“My reply was, ‘Well, I didn’t win,’ and they said, ‘We know, but we’d like to hear from you,’ ” Sorenstam says.

Her heart was pumping, her palms sweating. Her dad told her to grab her seven iron and say something simple like, “I let my clubs do the talking.”

“I realized after that, ‘Oh, that was it,’ ” she says, and public speaking became easier.

“It’s interesting how parents sometimes, they say we did so well, but she or he played so poorly,” she says. “It’s like they have a third person. I think it’s really important to separate the athlete vs. the human and just really understand that the sport is helping you to grow as a human being, and not vice versa. Be able to separate that and not judge by the score.”

Her dad’s was a calculated nudge she has learned to use as a parent herself.

She likes to ask Will three questions after he plays:

How did it go?

What did you do well?

What can you do better?

“And it’s kind of up to him. I’m not going to tell him: ‘I think you should do this better,’ ” she says.

He’ll tell her something, and then say, “I got it.”

“Whether he actually knows or not, he’s telling himself, ‘That’s probably what I need to do,’ ” she says. “And I think for us, it’s worked quite well, because I want him to be accountable and responsible for his own thing, and then if he doesn’t know, then just ask me. I don’t want him to feel when we get in the car ride home that he’s like trapped in a car, and I’m bombarding him with questions. You have to kind of feel the temperature.”

Coach Steve: Tips for the car ride home. Hint: Don’t be like Andre Agassi’s dad

It’s putting the power of the experience in our kids hands for their own self-discovery, she says, no matter what our level of accomplishment. We learn with each kid when to push and when to pull back.

“Hopefully he feels the safety net, but I’m only there if he needs it,” she says. “Otherwise, I’m just gonna let him do his thing because that’s how he learns. I’ve learned that myself: If he gets in a sticky situation, or if he’s on the golf course (and) it’s not working, he can’t ask me anyway. He’s gotta try to figure it out. So I might as well try to give him all the help early on and let him learn from his mistakes.”

‘The goal is to make great individuals’: We can go the distance with sports

The message with Will is one Sorenstam emphasizes to young golfers, whom she worked with in Phoenix in May and tentatively plans to see at clinics in Denver (August) and Austin (September) through “Golf with Us.”

Bank of America is offering kids 6 to 18 a free one-year membership through June 15 to its Youth on Course program, which grants access to rounds for $5 or less at affiliated courses. The clinics are open to Youth on Course members in the market and to children from youth partner organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Sorenstam says she’s not necessarily trying to create the next superstar but use golf, or whichever sport they choose, to help unlock things like dedication, curiosity, competitiveness and attention to fitness.

“The goal is to make great individuals that represent the sport, and not so much just result and performance,” she says. “It’s really tough today with pressure and expectations. It’s better if you can build a solid foundation and then once you have that, you can go out and be successful in whatever you choose.

“There’s so many things you can do within the sport, whether it’s running an event or sports marketing or manufacturing. If you love sports, there’s so many things you can do more than just play it and you can still be around the sport.

[Don’t forget sports writing.]

To help kids find the right fit, we can be engaged from a distance while letting them learn, explore, hit and miss on their own.

Kids are more resilient than you think, especially the shy ones.

“People think that people that have done well, it’s a straight line, straight journey; that you have no issues, you’re not scared, things come really easily,” she says. “But I think we all have weaknesses that we got to work on and try to improve.”

Steve Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.

Got a question for Coach Steve you want answered in a column? Email him at sborelli@usatoday.com

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Rec Sports

Location eyed for Kalamazoo County youth sports facility

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The city of Kalamazoo might be the host of a new youth sports facility. Discover Kalamazoo shared the recommended location with city commissioners Monday night. The site sits between US-131 and Drake Road — right outside of Oshtemo Township. Advertisement Jane Gosch with Discover Kalamazoo said the location is within a 15-minute […]

Published

7 hours ago

June 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — The city of Kalamazoo might be the host of a new youth sports facility.

Discover Kalamazoo shared the recommended location with city commissioners Monday night. The site sits between US-131 and Drake Road — right outside of Oshtemo Township.

Jane Gosch with Discover Kalamazoo said the location is within a 15-minute drive of several hotels around the county and is near a public transit line.

Plan would build youth sports facility in Kalamazoo County

The $40 million facility would be supported by hotel tax revenue and would fill a regional need for hardwood courts for basketball and volleyball games, according to organizers.

The location would still need to be brought to the county commission at meeting later this month for final approval.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.

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