North River women’s basketball league turns out to be a slam dunk

By Mark Squibb

Wednesday nights you can find Marie Stone, 61, on the ball court.
Stone is one of about 40 women who play in the North River Women’s Basketball League, a rec-reation league for women 18 and up operated by the North River Recreation Association.
The women play every Wednesday night at All Hallows Elementary in North River.
“There’s a lot of talent in that league,” said Stone, who heard about it through a friend on her volleyball team and despite not having played basketball in many a year, decided to sign up. “Theres a lot of young women — needless to say I’m by far the oldest — and a lot of good talent and good ball. Even though it’s a rec league, it’s still competitive.”
Even at 61, Stone said she feels like she has had no trouble fitting in.
“The first night I went I was just glad that I could keep up,” said Stone. “I said ‘Well, okay, I can keep up with them. You can’t get much better than that at my age.’”
Stone also plays pickleball, and said sports have been a great way to exercise, but also to make friends. She loves both the camaraderie and the competitive nature of the basketball league, and commended Ryan Gates of the association for getting it off the ground.
“Ryan is phenomenal,” said Stone. “The man puts his heart and soul into everything he does. He’s definitely the driving force behind this league.”
Jessica Bursey, 19, is the league’s youngest member.
“My teammates and I have become really close,” said Bursey. “We’re all friends and we carry on. It’s not too, too serious, but we’re still really competitive. When we play it’s fun and competitive. Everybody on my team wants to win, and I want to win as well. And everybody on the other team feels the same way.”
Bursey is especially glad the league provides young women like herself a chance to continue playing basketball after high school, and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the league caught on.
Bursey also coaches the North River U10 River Ratz boys’ team.
“I’ve played basketball since the fourth grade, so the kids that I’m coaching now are the same age that I was when I started playing,” said Bursey. “So, it’s kind of come full circle.”
Gates, who started the league, said a number of parents who had children involved in the North River youth basketball program were eager to talk about their own love of the game and how they would likely still play — if they had a place to play. So, while he expected a good turnout, he was shocked when about 20 women showed up for the first game. As word spread, Gates was forced to cap the league at 40 members.
Gates is pleased with the league’s success.
“One lady recently said, ‘It really feels like I’m a teenager again,’” said Gates. “And I think, for a lot of reasons, that’s great for someone’s mental health. To be able to put aside the mom stuff and the work stuff and life commitments to one side for an hour or so on a Wednesday night and feel like a teenager again… that to me is what this league is all about.”
The women will have a league championship later this spring. Following that, Gates is looking at establishing a summer league, although plans have not been solidified yet and play is dependent upon gym availability.
The games are officiated by the Newfoundland & Labrador Basketball Officials Commission, which lends credibility to the games.
Given the success of the women’s league, the recreation association has also formed a men’s league that is well attended.